Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement: An Anonymous Survey of APSA Members.

BACKGROUND: Although literature is sparse, there are guidelines regarding optimal placement technique for peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters in the pediatric population. Through this study, we sought to identify commonly used techniques among pediatric surgeons and identify areas for future work. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 16-question anonymous survey was emailed to American Pediatric Surgery Association members in September 2018 regarding routine practices for PD catheter placement. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test were used for analysis. RESULTS: In all, there were 221 respondents, 6.8% of whom did not place PD catheters in their practice. Of the remaining 206, the majority have been in practice >15 y. PD catheter placement during fellowship training varied widely, with 6.5% reporting no fellowship experience to 6% reporting >25 placed during fellowship. Almost half (48%) reported placing catheters via laparoscopic approach (versus open or combined approach). Most (62%) respondents reported an annual practice volume of 1-5 catheters, with only 11% placing >10 per year. Exit-site sutures were placed "always" by 33% of participants and "never" by 49% of participants. There was no association between years in practice or fellowship experience and exit-site suture placement. However, there was a trend for "never" placement (72%) with more recent graduates. Omentectomy was performed by 91% of respondents, whereas 8.3% reported never performing omentectomy/omentopexy. Similarly, there was no association between practice and fellowship experience and omentectomy. In the setting of abdominal stoma, 96% reported placing the exit site on the opposite side of the abdomen. Fibrin glue was used along the tunnel by 21% of participants, ranging from "always" to "sometimes", whereas 79% "never" used it. CONCLUSIONS: Fellowship, posttraining experience, and techniques in PD catheter placement vary widely among American Pediatric Surgery Association member respondents. Despite guidelines, practices differ among providers without an association between the number of cases performed in fellowship and postfellowship volume.

An Index Combining Respiratory Rate and Oxygenation to Predict Outcome of Nasal High-Flow Therapy.

Rationale: One important concern during high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is to not delay intubation. Objectives: To validate the diagnostic accuracy of an index (termed ROX and defined as the ratio of oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry/FiO2 to respiratory rate) for determining HFNC outcome (need or not for intubation). Methods: This was a 2-year multicenter prospective observational cohort study including patients with pneumonia treated with HFNC. Identification was through Cox proportional hazards modeling of ROX association with HFNC outcome. The most specific cutoff of the ROX index to predict HFNC failure and success was assessed. Measurements and Main Results: Among the 191 patients treated with HFNC in the validation cohort, 68 (35.6%) required intubation. The prediction accuracy of the ROX index increased over time (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 2 h, 0.679; 6 h, 0.703; 12 h, 0.759). ROX greater than or equal to 4.88 measured at 2 (hazard ratio, 0.434; 95% confidence interval, 0.264-0.715; P = 0.001), 6 (hazard ratio, 0.304; 95% confidence interval, 0.182-0.509; P < 0.001), or 12 hours (hazard ratio, 0.291; 95% confidence interval, 0.161-0.524; P < 0.001) after HFNC initiation was consistently associated with a lower risk for intubation. A ROX less than 2.85, less than 3.47, and less than 3.85 at 2, 6, and 12 hours of HFNC initiation, respectively, were predictors of HFNC failure. Patients who failed presented a lower increase in the values of the ROX index over the 12 hours. Among components of the index, oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry/FiO2 had a greater weight than respiratory rate. Conclusions: In patients with pneumonia with acute respiratory failure treated with HFNC, ROX is an index that can help identify those patients with low and those with high risk for intubation. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02845128).

Implementation of Urgent Start Peritoneal Dialysis Reduces Hemodialysis Catheter Use and Hospital Stay in Patients with Unplanned Dialysis Start.

BACKGROUND: Unplanned start of renal replacement therapy is common in patients with end-stage renal disease and often accomplished by hemodialysis (HD) using a central venous catheter (CVC). Urgent start using peritoneal dialysis (PD) could be an alternative for some of the patients; however, this requires a hospital-based PD center that offers a structured urgent start PD (usPD) program. METHODS: In this prospective study, we describe the implementation of an usPD program at our university hospital by structuring the process from presentation to PD catheter implantation and start of PD within a few days. For clinical validation, we compared the patient flow before (2013-2015) and after (2016-2018) availability of usPD. RESULTS: In the 3 years before the availability of usPD, 14% (n = 12) of incident PD patients (n = 87) presented in an unplanned situation and were initially treated with HD using a CVC. In the 3 years after implementation of the usPD program, 18% (n = 18) of all incident PD patients (n = 103) presented in an unplanned situation of whom n = 12 (12%) were treated with usPD and n = 6 (6%) with initial HD. usPD significantly reduced the use of HD by 57% (p = 0.0005). Hospital stay was similar in patients treated with usPD (median 9 days) compared to those with elective PD (8 days), and significantly lower than in patients with initial HD (26 days, p = 0.0056). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an usPD program reduces HD catheter use and hospital stay in the unplanned situation.

Two-Year Outcomes of Early Cannulation Arteriovenous Grafts for End-Stage Renal Disease.

BACKGROUND: Almost 80% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) initiate dialysis via a central venous catheter (CVC). CVCs are associated with multiple complications and a high cost of care. The purpose of our project is to determine the impact of early cannulation arteriovenous grafts (ECAVGs) on quality of care and costs. METHODS: The dialysis access modality, complications, secondary interventions, hospital outcomes, and detailed costs were tracked for 397 sequential patients who underwent access creation between July 2014 and October 2018. Complications were grouped into deep vein thrombosis, line infections, sepsis, pneumothorax, and other. Secondary interventions included angioplasty, angioplasty and stent grafting, thrombectomy, surgical revision, and explantation. Hospital outcomes included length of stay, inpatient mortality, 30-day readmission, and discharge disposition. Costs included supplies, medications, laboratory tests, labor, and other direct costs. All variables were measured at the time of the index procedure, 30 days, 90 days, 180 days, 270 days, 1 year, 18 months, and 2 years. RESULTS: There were 131 patients who underwent arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and 266 who received ECAVG for dialysis access. The total cost of care per patient was $17,523 for AVF and $5,894 for ECAVG at 1 year (P < 0.01). Primary-assisted patency for AVF was 49.3% versus 81.4% for ECAVG (P = 0.027), and secondary-assisted patency for AVF was 63.8% versus 85.4% for ECAVG at 1 year (P = 0.011). There was a survival advantage for ECAVGs at 1 year (78.6% for AVF vs 85.0% for ECAVG, P = 0.034). Patients who received ECAVG had fewer CVC days (2.3% vs 19.1% for AVF, P < 0.001), fewer complications (1.6% vs. 21.5% for AVF, P < 0.001), and fewer secondary interventions (17.0% vs 52.5% for AVF, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on patients with ESRD to report detailed outcomes and cost analysis as it relates to AVF versus ECAVG. ECAVGs have an advantage over AVFs due to lower overall cost and better clinical outcomes at 1 year. Implementation of an urgent start dialysis access program centered around ECAVGs may help achieve the national goal of better health care at a lower cost for patients with ESRD.

Simulation Versus Problem Based Learning for Cerebrospinal Drainage Catheter Insertion and Management: A Randomized Trial in a Large Academic Anesthesiology Residency Program.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebrospinal fluid drainage catheter-related complications can be reduced by following strict guidelines during their introduction, maintenance, and removal. The authors therefore aimed to determine whether simulation-based learning would improve senior anesthesiology residents' patient care performance during the insertion and management of these catheters compared to interactive problem-based learning (PBL) using the Anaesthetists' Non-Technical Skills global rating scale (ANTS). DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: Vascular or hybrid operating rooms in a large academic tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS: Senior anesthesia (categorical anesthesia-3) residents rotating through the vascular rotation at the Cleveland Clinic main campus in the period between December 2014 and June 2017. INTERVENTION: Simulation-based learning versus PBL. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was the composite score (ANTS global rating scale) achieved by participating residents as evaluated by their supervising anesthesiologists. Out of 28 residents who completed the study, N = 13 were randomized to simulation-based learning and N = 15 residents to the PBL approach. The median (first quartile, third quartile) composite score was 16 (14, 16) and 16 (13, 16) for the simulation-based learning and PBL groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in staff evaluation of the 2 study groups (p = 0.48) with an estimated odds (95% confidence interval) of getting a better staff evaluation score of 1.9 (0.3-10.6) times higher comparing simulation versus traditional training groups. CONCLUSION: Compared to interactive PBL, simulation-based learning does not result in a statistically significant improvement in anesthesia resident performance during insertion and management of cerebrospinal fluid drainage catheters.

An Alternate In-Plane Technique of Ultrasound-Guided Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation.

BACKGROUND: Commonly used ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation techniques, short axis out of plane and long axis in-plane, have significantly reduced complications but failed to eliminate them because of technical difficulties. OBJECTIVE: This article describes a new anteroposterior short axis in-plane technique that combines advantage of in-plane technique to track the needle tip and short axis view of visualizing nearby anatomical structures by placing the probe on the side of the neck, oriented anteroposteriorly, perpendicular to the long axis of neck. This view visualizes IJV and its relationship to the carotid artery in short axis. The puncture needle is passed in-plane anteroposteriorly from the anterior aspect of the neck. Visualizing the needle, carotid artery, and IJV in single frame minimizes complications. METHODS: A prospective evaluative clinical trial was conducted in patients who require IJV cannulation for various reasons by performers experienced in ultrasound-guided IJV cannulations. The efficacy of the technique is indicated by 3 primary outcome measures: access time, number of attempts and success rate, and safety by secondary outcome measure, which is the incidence of mechanical complications. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were enrolled. The average number of attempts was 1.17 (standard deviation 0.44), the access time was 27.12 s (standard deviation 21.47), and the success rate was 100%. This technique had 12% incidence of posterior venous wall punctures and 2.66% misplacements and no other complications. CONCLUSION: Anteroposterior short axis in-plane technique is relatively novel and could be alternatively used safely and effectively in place of existing techniques for IJV cannulation.

Epidural test dose in obstetric patients: should we still use it?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: As the application of a test dose after epidural catheter insertion in obstetrics has recurrently been associated with serious adverse events affecting both maternal and foetal outcomes, the question whether to test or not remains a controversial issue. RECENT FINDINGS: Present guidelines do not provide clear recommendations in this regard and several recent surveys indicate a heterogeneity in clinical routine. SUMMARY: Physiological alterations during pregnancy and labour restrict the use and also the validity of traditional test agents. Epinephrine is not appropriate to detect a vascular insertion in labour and the application of a local anaesthetic test dose may lead to dose-dependent fatal consequences should the catheter be intrathecal, due to an increased sensitivity in parturients. Given the current practice of opioid-amended-low-concentration epidurals, the waiving of a test dose results at worst in a failed epidural, a stark contrast to the potentially severe to fatal complications of a 'traditional' test dose. Hence, an originally preventive measure providing potentially more harm than the consequences of the situation aimed to prevent, should not be recommended. A simple fractionated administration of the initial analgesic dose seems reasonable though.

Surgical safety in catheterization laboratory. / Segurança cirúrgica em laboratório de cateterismo.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process of implanting the surgical safety checklist in a catheterization laboratory (CL). METHOD: Descriptive case report study about the safety strategies developed in the last six years in a university hospital in the southern region of Brazil. RESULTS: The six international patient safety goals (IPSG) were incorporated into the care practice in accordance with the hospital's Joint Comission International (JCI) accreditation program, through a continuous process of educational nature. The checklist was adapted considering the characteristics of the unit and the procedures performed. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the checklist provided the promotion of patient safety, greater staff integration, advances in communication among professionals and the recording of in-room care information.

Performance measures for ERCP and endoscopic ultrasound: a European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Quality Improvement Initiative.

The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and United European Gastroenterology present a short list of key performance measures for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We recommend that endoscopy services across Europe adopt the following seven key and one minor performance measures for EUS and ERCP, for measurement and evaluation in daily practice at center and endoscopist level: 1: Adequate antibiotic prophylaxis before ERCP (key performance measure, at least 90 %); 2: Antibiotic prophylaxis before EUS-guided puncture of cystic lesions (key performance measure, at least 95 %); 3: Bile duct cannulation rate (key performance measure, at least 90 %); 4: Tissue sampling during EUS (key performance measure, at least 85 %); 5: Appropriate stent placement in patients with biliary obstruction below the hilum (key performance measure, at least 95 %); 6: Bile duct stone extraction (key performance measure, at least 90 %); 7: Post-ERCP pancreatitis (key performance measure, less than 10 %). 8: Adequate documentation of EUS landmarks (minor performance measure, at least 90 %).This present list of quality performance measures for ERCP and EUS recommended by ESGE should not be considered to be exhaustive: it might be extended in future to address further clinical and scientific issues.

Ready to run the wards? - A descriptive follow-up study assessing future doctors' clinical skills.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that clinical tasks only represent a small percentage in the scope of final-year medical students' activities and often lack sufficient supervision. It appears that final-year medical students are frequently deployed to perform "routine tasks" and show deficits in the performance of more complex activities. This study aimed to evaluate final-year students' clinical performance in multiple impromptu clinical scenarios using video-based assessment. METHODS: We assessed final-year medical students' clinical performance in a prospective, descriptive, clinical follow-up study with 24 final-year medical students during their Internal Medicine rotation. Participating students were videotaped while practicing history taking, physical examination, IV cannulation, and case presentation at the beginning and end of their rotation. Clinical performance was rated by two independent, blinded video assessors using binary checklists, activity specific rating scales and a five-point global rating scale for clinical competence. RESULTS: Students' performance, assessed by the global rating scale for clinical competence, improved significantly during their rotation. However, their task performance was not rated as sufficient for independent practice in most cases. Analysis of average scores revealed that overall performance levels differed significantly, whereby average performance was better for less complex and more frequently performed activities. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to show that students' performance levels differ significantly depending on the frequency and complexity of activities. Hence, to ensure adequate job preparedness for clinical practice, students need sufficiently supervised and comprehensive on-ward medical training.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Cannulation of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Make it Simple.

BACKGROUND: Cannulation of the great vessels is required for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Currently, there is no guideline for optimal imaging modalities during percutaneous cannulation of ECMO. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe percutaneous cannulation guided by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for ECMO and compare it with fluoroscopy and landmark guidance. METHODS: Three groups (POCUS-, fluoroscopy-, and landmark-guided) of percutaneous cannulation for ECMO were analyzed retrospectively in a tertiary academic hospital. In the POCUS-guided group, visual confirmation of guidewire and cannula by ultrasound in both the access and return cannula were essential for successful cannulation. Fluoroscopy- and landmark-guided groups were cannulated with the conventional technique. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients were treated by ECMO during the study period, of which 94 (73.4%) cases were venoarterial ECMO. This included 56 cases of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Also, there were 30 (23.4%) cases of venovenous ECMO and 4 (3.1%) cases of venoarteriovenous ECMO. A total of 71 (55.5%) patients were cannulated under POCUS guidance, and 43 (33.6%) patients were cannulated under fluoroscopy guidance and 14 (10.9%) patients were cannulated by landmark guidance. No surgical cut downs were required. Misplacement of cannula occurred in 3 (2.3%) cases. All three occurred in the landmark-guided group. CONCLUSIONS: POCUS-guided cannulation is comparable to fluoroscopy-guided cannulation in terms of avoiding cannula misplacement. In our experience, POCUS-guided cannulation is a useful strategy over fluoroscopy- and landmark-guided cannulation during peripheral ECMO.

Effect of peripheral IV based blood collection on catheter dwell time, blood collection, and patient response.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of daily PIV-based phlebotomy using the PIVO device on PIVC dwell times and replacement rates, as well as the reliability of blood sample collection, and patient response to this method of blood collection. BACKGROUND: Blood draws which are also known as phlebotomy for laboratory analyses are one of the most common experiences for hospitalized patients. When performed by venipuncture, they are often associated with pain and anxiety for patients. Most hospitals avoid phlebotomy from peripheral IV catheters due to sample hemolysis, sample dilution by fluids in PIVC line or infused medications, PIVC dislodgement or infiltration, and increased rates of phlebitis. METHODS: A prospective, randomized- controlled study of 160 GI surgery patients was enrolled. Patients were randomized to either control evaluation of PIVC dwell or to receive daily PIVO blood collections in addition to evaluation of PIVC dwell. RESULTS: Daily PIVO blood collections did not negatively affect PIVC dwell or replacement rates. Overall 81% of blood collection attempts were successful and the likelihood of success was strongly associated with PIVC condition. Patients reported 0.7/10 pain for PIVO blood collection on a 0-10 pain scale and a 9.1/10 preference for PIVO on a 0 (strongly prefer needle) to 10 (strongly prefer PIVO) preference scale. Results suggest that use of a PIV based blood collection was a reliable and valid approach and was superior to routine phlebotomy in self-reported responses from patients.

[Safe Vascular Access - the Guideline of the Association of Anaesthesists of Great Britain and Ireland 2016]. / Der sichere Gefäßzugang ­ britisch-irische Leitlinie 2016.

This guideline was presented in 2016 due to the need for an up to date evidence-based guidance focusing on patient safety. In addition to safety-related aspects of catheter insertion or removal, organisational issues and structured training concepts were discussed. The guideline was created based on the review of current literature as well as expert opinion. The article summarizes and discusses the most important recommendations and the reader is provided with practical advice for catheter insertion or removal with the intention to improve the safety of the patients.

Ultrasound-Guided Paravertebral Catheter Versus Intercostal Blocks for Postoperative Pain Control in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The use of continuous paravertebral (PV) catheters for management of acute postsurgical pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has not been investigated previously as a randomized controlled trial. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of an ultrasound-guided continuous PV catheter catheter infusion for postoperative pain control with single-shot intercostal blocks (ICB). DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: An academic university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (≥18 years of age) who underwent a VATS procedure. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 received single-shot ICB. Group 2 received an ultrasound-guided PV catheter with a continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were 25 patients in group 1 and 23 patients in group 2. The maximum pain score was significantly lower in the group that received the PV catheter compared with those who received ICB during 24 to 48 hours (3.65 v 6.44, p<0.001). Seventeen patients (74%) who received PV catheters reported satisfaction with a pain control regimen compared to the 11 (44%) who received ICB (p = 0.036). In addition, during 24 to 48 hours after surgery the mean opioid use decreased significantly in the PV catheter group (14.39 v 30.50 mg morphine equivalents, p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided continuous PV catheter infusions provided prolonged pain control and superior patient satisfaction compared with single-shot ICB after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

A pilot study to assess the utility of a freely downloadable mobile application simulator for undergraduate clinical skills training: a single-blinded, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Medical simulators offer an invaluable educational resource for medical trainees. However, owing to cost and portability restrictions, they have traditionally been limited to simulation centres. With the advent of sophisticated mobile technology, simulators have become cheaper and more accessible. Touch Surgery is one such freely downloadable mobile application simulator (MAS) used by over one million healthcare professionals worldwide. Nevertheless, to date, it has never been formally validated as an adjunct in undergraduate medical education. METHODS: Medical students in the final 3 years of their programme were recruited and randomised to one of three revision interventions: 1) no formal revision resources, 2) traditional revision resources, or 3) MAS. Students completed pre-test questionnaires and were then assessed on their ability to complete an undisclosed male urinary catheterisation scenario. Following a one-hour quarantined revision period, all students repeated the scenario. Both attempts were scored by allocation-blinded examiners against an objective 46-point mark scheme. RESULTS: A total of 27 medical students were randomised (n = 9 per group). Mean scores improved between baseline and post-revision attempts by 8.7% (p = 0.003), 19.8% (p = 0.0001), and 15.9% (p = 0.001) for no resources, traditional resources, and MAS, respectively. However, when comparing mean score improvements between groups there were no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile simulators offer an unconventional, yet potentially useful adjunct to enhance undergraduate clinical skills education. Our results indicate that MAS's perform comparably to current gold-standard revision resources; however, they may confer significant advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and practice flexibility. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Variation in learning curves and competence for ERCP among advanced endoscopy trainees by using cumulative sum analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There are limited data on learning curves and competence in ERCP. By using a standardized data collection tool, we aimed to prospectively define learning curves and measure competence among advanced endoscopy trainees (AETs) by using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. METHODS: AETs were evaluated by attending endoscopists starting with the 26th hands-on ERCP examination and then every ERCP examination during the 12-month training period. A standardized ERCP competency assessment tool (using a 4-point scoring system) was used to grade the examination. CUSUM analysis was applied to produce learning curves for individual technical and cognitive components of ERCP performance (success defined as a score of 1, acceptable and unacceptable failures [p1] of 10% and 20%, respectively). Sensitivity analyses varying p1 and by using a less-stringent definition of success were performed. RESULTS: Five AETs were included with a total of 1049 graded ERCPs (mean ± SD, 209.8 ± 91.6/AET). The majority of cases were performed for a biliary indication (80%). The overall and native papilla allowed cannulation times were 3.1 ± 3.6 and 5.7 ± 4, respectively. Overall learning curves demonstrated substantial variability for individual technical and cognitive endpoints. Although nearly all AETs achieved competence in overall cannulation, none achieved competence for cannulation in cases with a native papilla. Sensitivity analyses increased the proportion of AETs who achieved competence. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there is substantial variability in ERCP learning curves among AETs. A specific case volume does not ensure competence, especially for native papilla cannulation.

Development of an ovine efferent mammary lymphatic cannulation model with minimal tissue damage.

BACKGROUND: Two mammary lymphatic cannulation models in sheep have been described with minimal use in the past 50 years. The purpose of this study was to investigate a new surgical technique to allow long term monitoring of mammary lymph flow and composition from the mammary glands, with rapid ewe recovery and minimal complications post-surgery. RESULTS: We developed a modified methodology for cannulating the efferent mammary lymphatic from the mammary lymph node with minimum tissue damage. Compared to the previous models, our method required only a small incision on the aponeurosis of the external abdominal oblique muscles and thus reduced the difficulties in suturing the aponeurosis. It allowed for lymph collection and assessment for at least one week post-surgery with concurrent milk collection. CONCLUSION: This method allows for good ewe recovery post-surgery and in vivo sampling of efferent mammary lymph from the mammary lymph nodes in real-time and comparison with milk parameters.

Outcomes of Vascular Access Care and Surgery Managed by Interventional Nephrologists: A Twelve-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Optimizing vascular access outcomes is still a challenge, since 30-60% of arteriovenous fistulas fail or do not mature and catheters are widely used in contemporary patients. METHODS: This study reports on strategies and outcomes in a single center in which access planning, surgery and maintenance are managed by a team of nephrologists. We retrospectively analyzed 305 fistulas and 61 grafts created in 270 consecutive patients between 2002 and 2013. RESULTS: The percentage of patients receiving a fistula or graft who initiated hemodialysis with a mature access was 68.6%. Among prevalent patients, 71.7% used a fistula, 15.7% a graft and 12.6% a catheter. Rates of primary failure and revision before cannulation were 14.4 and 1.6% for fistulas vs. 4.9 and 3.3% for grafts. After maturation, complications (1.040 vs. 0.188 per patient-year (py)) and interventions (0.743 vs. 0.066 per py) were greater for grafts than for fistulas (p < 0.001). Secondary patency did not significantly differ between grafts and fistulas (median survival 34.8 vs. 57.3 months, p = 0.36), unless primary failures were excluded from Kaplan-Meier analysis (median survival 34.9 vs. 70.9 months, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: High fistula prevalence, low access-related morbidity and catheter dependence were achieved using individualized strategies, including mid-forearm or perforating vein fistula creation and selective graft placement in high risk patients. Direct involvement of nephrologists throughout all steps of access care can improve access outcomes, by promoting a patient-centered approach.