The Effects of Vasodilation Induced by Brachial Plexus Block on the Development of Postoperative Thrombosis of the Arteriovenous Access in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: A Retrospective Study

Although brachial plexus block (BPB)-induced vasodilation reduces the incidence of arteriovenous access (AC) thrombosis, BPB cannot completely prevent its development. Therefore, we retrospectively investigated the factors affecting BPB-induced vasodilation and their effects on AC thrombosis development. Ninety-five patients undergoing AC surgery under BPB were analyzed. Vessel diameters were measured before and 20 min after BPB. The surgery abandoned before the BPB placement was performed when the BPB-induced increases in vessel diameters met its indications. Complete occlusive access thrombosis (COAT) was defined as loss of pulse, thrill, or bruit. Fourteen patients (14.7%) developed COAT. The outflow vein was more dilated by BPB than the inflow artery (0.6 versus 0.1 mm in median, p < 0.001). The original surgery plan was changed for seven patients (7.4%). Diabetes mellitus (DM) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) decreased the extent of increases in the inflow artery by −0.183 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] [−0.301, −0.065], p = 0.003) and outflow vein diameters by −0.402 mm (95% CI [−0.781, −0.024], p = 0.038), respectively. However, DM, IHD, and changes in the vessel diameters had insignificant effects on the development of COAT. In conclusion, although DM and IHD attenuate the vasodilating effects of BPB, they do not contribute to the development of COAT.