Introduction: One of the complications of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) is access-related thrombosis, and initiatives go towards maintenance of patency of these fistulas as they serve as a lifeline for these patients. Antiplatelet agents have been considered in terms of prophylaxis and their effects have been previously studied, however results of these trials have been varied. Methodology: This prospective cohort study involved patients who were planned to undergo AVF creation and were grouped into patients in an antiplatelet group and non-antiplatelet group. Recruited patients underwent surgery and were seen in the outpatient clinic at 6 weeks and 3 months and assessed for complications they may have had for example bleeding, fistula maturation and presence of thrombosis. Results were subsequently recorded and analysed. Results: A total of 71 patients were recruited for the study. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine the relationship between the use of antiplatelet agents, and the presence of venous limb thrombosis at 6 weeks and 3 months. Patients in the antiplatelet group demonstrated a much lower incidence of thrombosis at 6 weeks and 3 months compared to the patients in the non-antiplatelet group, and these results were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: There is an observed association between antiplatelet agents and prevention of venous limb thrombosis post-AVF creation. Results may vary on a larger scale and sample size, with an intervention-based study protocol, and may prove that antiplatelet agents may be of further benefit in preventing venous limb thrombosis.
Sittampalam et al. (Thu,) studied this question.