Introduction:

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are the best type of vascular access for patients with chronic renal disease (CKD) that starts the replacement therapy. However, the use of tunneled catheters with good results has been considered for patients on hemodialysis who are not candidates for the construction of AVF.

Objective:

To determine the functional survival of arteriovenous fistulas compared with tunneled catheters in chronic hemodialysis (HD).

Material and methods:

A retrospective study of a database of patients with permanent vascular access to analyze and compare the results of patients who started with AVF (group A) and tunneled catheters (group B) from June 2014 to November 2015 with follow-up through December 31, 2016.

Results:

A total of 692 patients were included, 143 AVF were constructed, and 549 were tunneled catheters. The groups were matched with the Propensity score matching (PSM) methodology forming a group A (n = 99) and group B (n = 99). The functional survival of AVF was 94% compared to 81% of the catheters tunneled in the first year and 90% compared to 77% at the end of the second year (Log Rank = 0.002).

Conclusion:

Functional survivals of arteriovenous fistulas were superior in comparison with tunneled catheters.