Loop Transposition of the Saphenous Vein for Blood Access to Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Four-teen patients, who had no option for blood access in the upper extremities, received the procedure of saphenous vein loop transposition. The patients were 7 men and 7 women, with the average of 64.1 years old. After the surgery all patients underwent hemodialysis using the new blood access. One suffered from infection of the lymphatic cyst at the groin after 8 months, and another had the puncture site bleeding after 24 months. Stenoses of the loop vein occurred in 7 patients, and 1–16 percutaneous transluminal dilatations were performed. Primary patency rates were 32.7% at 1 year, and 0% at 2 years. Secondary patency rates were 70.1% at 1 year, and 46.8% at 2 years. Relatively large vessels are anastomosed in this loop transposition, and the blood access can be used in the early postoperative period. In cases such as having the risk of artificial graft infection, the saphenous vein loop transposition is alternative option for blood access.