The use of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis are broadly supported in the previous literatures. When there is no suitable vein for fistula creation in the forearm or the antecubital fossa, the options for vascular access are either a basilic vein transposition arteriovenous fistula (BVT) or a prosthetic arteriovenous graft (AVG). Recently, the patients who used a BVT has increased because of its higher patency rate and lower incidence of complications when compared with AVGs. But the reports of the brachial vein transposition arteriovenous fistula (BrVT) are rare and its efficacies are still unknown. We report our experience in the creation of BrVTs in patients without adequate superficial vein in the upper limb.
Between 2008 and 2011, five BrVTs were created by one-stage procedure. The mean time of duration of operation was 168 minutes and the first puncture for hemodialysis was performed an average of 22 days post operatively. Complications during the follow-up period included 4 temporal edema, 1 hematoma at the time of first puncture with wound dehiscence and prolonged edema. Infections or steal syndrome were not seen. Secondary patency rate was 100% after a year. Although the brachial vein is rarely used for AVF creation, it seemed that the BrVT is one of the suitable option to create an alternative AVF in patiens with inadequate superficial veins.

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