Techniques of construction of a brachial basilic arteriovenous fistula

ABSTRACT

This study included 73 patients mainatined on regular hemodialysis and in whom the standard radial cephalic arteriovenous fistula cannot be constructed [26 cases] or failed [47 cases]. Two methods were used in these situations namely superficialization of the basilic vein [45 cases] and side to side brachial - basilic vein with valvulotomal destruction of the venous valves of the basilic vein in the forearm [28 cases]. The one year patency rates were 82.05% and 82.6% respectively. The overall complications of the two procedures were acceptable. Infections with aneurysmal dilatation and/or secondary hemorrhage occured in 4.1%, venous hypertension in 4.1% and distal ischemia in 1.36%. No cases of heart failure were observed in this series