Evaluation of arteriovenous fistula[AVF] by using doppler-sonography.

ABSTRACT

Dopplerosonography was used to evaluate the long term function of arteriovenous fistulas created in 60 patients with chronic renal failure. The fistulas were 16 at the cubital fossa [side to side], 44 at the distal forearm [18 side to side, 18 end to side and 8 end to end], the diameter of the brachial artery feeding the fistula, ranged between 0.5- 0.8 mm. The flow volumes were calculated, they were 480, 310, 300, 140 ml/m respectively. Follow-up these patients showed that a mean flow volume between 300- 500 ml/m is quite enough for hemodialysis and flow volume less than 200 ml is insufficient for long term hemodialysis. Doppler sonograph is a simple, rapid and cheap method, and its use during creation of arterio-venous fistula can determine its efficiency in long term hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal failure