2004 Volume 37 Issue 4 Pages 303-306
Superficialized arterio-venous fistulas using brachial arteries and brachial veins were constructed in 28 patients between 1997 and 2002. The mean age and duration of hemodialysis were 67.2 years old and 7.5 years. The previous number of blood access procedures was 4.9 on average. All fistulas were successfully constructed, and the first puncture for hemodialysis was performed an average of 25.8 days post operatively. Complications during the follow-up period included 8 occlusions, 2 stenoses, 3 arm swellings at the access site, 2 lymphoceles, and 2 patients with poor wound healing. Patency rates were 80.8% after 6 months and 75.4% after a year. Superficialized brachio-brachial A-V fistula is a useful technique for secondary or tertiary blood access, because the cumulative patency rate is by no means inferior to vascular access grafts in the upper arm at our hospital during almost the same period.
