Arteriovenous fistula construction in chronic haemodialysis patients: comparison of end-to-side and side-to-side techniques

ABSTRACT

To compare the techniques of end-to-side and side-to-side anastomosis in arteriovenous fistulae construction in terms of success rate and immediate postoperative complications. Design: Comparative study. Place and Duration of Study Ayub Hospital Complex, Abbottabad, from October 1999 to December 2002 and Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, from January 2003 to December 2003. Patients and One hundred and ninety patients with end stage renal disease [ESRD] were included in the study. Arteriovenous fistula was constructed in these patients by two techniques i.e. end-to-side and side-to-side anastomosis. The two methods were compared in terms of duration of surgery, immediate success rate and short-term complications. Among 190 patients, 118 [62%] were males and 72 [38%] females. The age ranged between 24 to 66 years with average age of 54 years. Side-to-side anastomosis was done in 120 [63%] patients while end-to-side in 70 [37%] patients. The average duration of surgery in side-to-side group was 50 minutes and in end-to-side group it was 75 minutes. Bleeding occurred in 4[5.7%] cases in end-to-side group and 2[1.7%] patients in side-to-side group requiring reexploration. The immediate failure rate of the procedure was 2.5% in side-to-side group and 7.5% in end-to-side group. Wound infection occurred in 1[1.4%] case in end-to-side group and 2[1.7%] cases in side-to-side group. In patients with end stage renal disease [ESRD] arteriovenous fistula construction by side-to-side anastomosis is less time-consuming and has less complications as compared to end-to-side technique