Impact on autologous vascular access (VA) creation during COVID-19 pandemic at Hospital Kuala Lumpur

• Main Authors: Abdul Rahman, Mohd Norhisham Azmi, Mohd Ali, Nurul Nadiah Nazurah, Hussein, Hanif
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Editorial Committee of Annals of Vascular Diseases 2021
• Subjects: RD Surgery
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/107015/1/107015_Impact%20on%20autologous%20vascular%20access.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/107015/; https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/avd/14/Supplement/14_sup.21-00001/_article

Introduction: The COVID 19 pandemic send a shock wave worldwide since it surfaced in 2020. This has brought an unprecedented crisis towards Malaysia and worldwide healthcare system resulting in a delay, and in some centres, indefinite postponement in performing elective surgery. Purpose: To examined the impact of COVID 19 pandemic on vascular access creation at Malaysia’s national vascular referral centre. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis comparing the waiting time, number of vascular access (VA) creation and catheter-related morbidity between pre-pandemic and post-pandemic era. Results: There were 476 autologous VA 6 months prior to COVID 19 pandemic and 199 for same duration during the COVID 19 pandemic. Despite of less VA being created there is a statistically longer waiting time from the time patient was referred to the clinic and a VA being created (median 74 vs 98 days (p < 0.05) with a higher catheter malfunction rate during the COVID 19 pandemic among these patient (25 vs 14 events/1000 catheter-days). Conclusion: There is a significant increase in waiting time for VA creation and haemodialysis catheter malfunction among these patients during the COVID 19 pandemic.