The impact of functioning hemodialysis arteriovenous accesses on renal graft perfusion: Results of a pilot study:

Introduction:After a kidney transplant, it is unknown whether the maintenance of a functioning hemodialysis arteriovenous access could have deleterious effects on renal grafts. We hypothesize that maintaining an arteriovenous access can deviate a significant proportion of the cardiac output from the renal graft. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a temporary closure of the arteriovenous access could lead to an increase in graft perfusion.Methods:We conducted a study in 17 kidney-transplanted patients with a functioning arteriovenous access. We evaluated, at baseline and 30 s after compression of the arteriovenous access (access flow occlusion), the hemodynamic parameters and the renal resistive index of the graft by Doppler ultrasound.Results:After arteriovenous access occlusion 82.4% (n = 14) of the patients had a decrease in resistive index. All patients had a decrease in heart rate (67 vs 58 bpm, p < 0.001) and 14 (82.4%) had an increase in mean blood pressure (98.3 vs 101.7 mm Hg, p = 0....