Table 1.
Care Processes Examined for Attempted Cannulation in Cannulation-Eligible Subcohort, and for Unassisted and Overall Clinical Maturation in Cannulated Subcohort
| Outcomes Studied | ||
|---|---|---|
| Process or Event | Cannulation Attempt | Clinical Maturation |
| Transposed vs. non-transposed AVF | X | |
| Timing of surgeon’s earliest regular follow-up visit | X | |
| Surgeon has regular 2nd follow-up visit | X | |
| Surgeon’s routine use of post-operative ultrasound (vs. no or selectively) | X | X |
| Timing of surgeon’s earliest regular ultrasound follow-up | X | X |
| Dedicated vascular access coordinator (dichotomous: yes, and participates in scheduling referrals, evaluations, and surgery, vs. other) | X | X |
| No. of non-study ultrasounds done pre-cannulation | X | X |
| Any invasive diagnostic procedure or intervention to assist the fistula | X | X |
| Surgeon’s usual follow-up routine (0,1, ≥2 routine visits) | X | |
| Surgeon’s usual ultrasound follow-up routine (0,1, ≥2 usual ultrasounds) | X | |
| Dialysis unit of 1st cannulation attempt: No. of stations | X | |
| Dialysis unit of 1st cannulation attempt: # maintenance HD patients treated per week | X | |
| Dialysis unit of 1st cannulation attempt: responsibility for initial cannulation decisions (varies by patient, dialysis unit staff, nephrologist, surgeon, group decision) | X | |
| Dialysis unit of 1st cannulation attempt: written protocol for initial cannulation procedure | X | |
| Surgery to dialysis interval (for those not on maintenance dialysis at time of surgery) | X | |
| Surgery to 1st cannulation interval (for those on maintenance dialysis at time of surgery) | X | |
| Initial cannulator role (technician or nurse) | X | |
| Initial cannulator years of experience | X | |
| Size of the largest needle at 1st cannulation (15, 16, or 17 gauge) | X | |
| No. of cannulation attempts to achieve 1st successful cannulation | X | |
| Interval from 1st attempt to successful cannulation | X | |
| Any infiltration during cannulation attempt prior to 1st successful cannulation | X | |
| Any additional infiltrations requiring new needle placement, or interruption of dialysis or study fistula use, after successful cannulation and prior to determination of respective (unassisted or overall) maturation outcome | X | |
| Intervention attributed to stenosis or vein depth prior to determination of overall maturation outcome. | X | |
Note: See Figure 1 for subcohort composition.
HD, hemodialysis