Hemodialysis pathway types influence wound healing complications and survival in end-stage renal disease patients in a retrospective cohort study

This study evaluates the impact of different hemodialysis access types-central venous catheter (CVC), arteriovenous graft (AVG), and autologous arteriovenous fistula (AVF)-on wound healing, complication rates, and long-term survival in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). A retrospective analysis of 323 ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis over a ten-year period revealed significant differences in outcomes across the three groups. AVF patients experienced the shortest wound healing times and the highest dialysis efficacy, while the CVC group had the highest infection and reoperation rates. Although there were no significant differences in cardiac function or cause-specific mortality, AVF patients had the longest median survival time, followed by those in the CVC and AVG groups. These findings suggest that while AVF provides superior dialysis efficiency and survival outcomes with fewer complications, patient suitability and individual health conditions must be carefully considered when selecting the appropriate vascular access for hemodialysis.