Cole NM, et al. Regional Anesthesia for Arteriovenous Fistula Surgery May Reduce Hospital Length of Stay and Reoperation Rates. Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2018 Aug; 52(6):418-426.

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Results: Patients who received regional anesthesia had the shortest postoperative length of stay (0.67 [standard deviation: 2.0] days) compared to monitored anesthesia care/intravenous (IV) sedation (0.77 [1.8] days) and general anesthesia (1.44 [2.8] days). Administration of regional anesthesia was associated with a shorter length of stay compared to general anesthesia (odds ratio [OR]: 0.55, P = .001). Patients who received monitored anesthesia care/IV sedation had a lower risk of reoperation compared to general anesthesia (OR: 0.65, P = .012) but not compared to regional anesthesia (OR: 0.89, P = .759). Anesthesia type had no significant effects on other measured postoperative complications. Predictors of the type of anesthesia were age and surgical procedure as defined by Current Procedural Terminology code ( P < .001).

Conclusions: Use of regional anesthesia is associated with a shorter postoperative length of stay after arteriovenous fistula surgery and lower risk of reoperation compared to general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care/IV sedation. Regional anesthesia may be an excellent choice for arteriovenous fistula surgery to reduce postoperative length of stay and risk of reoperation.

Macfarlane AJR, et al. Does regional anaesthesia for arteriovenous fistula formation surgery improve long-term outcome? Anaesthesia. 2020 Dec;75(12):1684.

Armstrong RA, et al. Regional anaesthesia practice for arteriovenous fistula formation surgery. Anaesthesia. 2020 May;75(5):626-633.

Kobe I. Critical appraisal of a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing regional versus local anaesthesia for arteriovenous fistula creation. J Vasc Access. 2020 Mar; 21(2):265.

Jorgensen MS, et al. The Role of Regional versus General Anesthesia on Arteriovenous Fistula and Graft Outcomes: A Single-Institution Experience and Literature Review. Ann Vasc Surg. 2020 Jan;62:287-294.