Search

Objectives: Arteriovenous fistulae (AVFs) play a key role for people who rely on chronic haemodialysis. Stenosis in the venous outflow of the AVF will cause an alternative route of the subcutaneous blood flow via the deeper venous pathways by means of side branches and the perforating veins (PVs). The purpose for the present study was to define the number and anatomical localisation of the perforating veins in the forearm., Methods: Twenty forearms were dissected to study the venous anatomy. The localisation, size and connections of the perforators were recorded and stored digitally., Results: In total, 189 PVs were defined (mean, 9.5 per arm; range, 6-19), with 60 (32%) PVs connected to the cephalic vein, 97 (51%) connections to the basilic vein and 32 (17%) PVs to the median vein of the forearm. Most PVs originate from the basilic vein and connect with the ulnar venae comitans. The cephalic vein connects equally to the radial venae comitans, interossea veins and the muscles., Conclusion: The cephalic vein has the fewest PVs and almost a third of them connect to the muscles. This is probably important for the maturation of the AVF, the superficial flow volume and the accessibility for puncture., (Copyright © 2011 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The construction of an autogenous radial-cephalic direct wrist arteriovenous fistula (RCAVF) is the primary and best option for vascular access for hemodialysis. However, 10%-24% of RCAVFs thrombose directly after operation or do not function adequately due to failure of maturation. In case of poor arterial and/or poor venous vessels for anastomosis, the outcome of RCAVFs may be worse and an alternative vascular access is probably indicated. A prosthetic graft implant may be a second best option. Therefore, a randomized multicenter study comparing RCAVF with prosthetic (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]) graft implantation in patients with poor vessels was performed., Methods: A total of 383 consecutive new patients needing primary vascular access were screened for enrollment in a prospective randomized study. According to defined vessel criteria from the preoperative duplex scanning, 140 patients were allocated to primary placement of an RCAVF and 61 patients to primary prosthetic graft implantation. The remaining 182 patients were randomized to receive either an RCAVF (n = 92) or prosthetic graft implant (n = 90). Patency rate was defined as the percentage of AVFs that functioned well after implantation., Results: Primary and assisted primary 1-year patencies were 33% +/- 5.3% vs 44% +/- 6.2% (P = .03) and 48% +/- 5.5% vs 63% +/- 5.9% (P = .035) for the RCAVF and prosthetic AVF, respectively. Secondary patencies were 52% +/- 5.5% vs 79% +/- 5.1% (P = .0001) for the RCAVF and prosthetic AVF, respectively. Patients with RCAVFs developed a total of 102 (1.19/patient-year [py]) vs 122 (1.45/py; P = .739) complications in the prosthetic AVFs. A total of 43 (0.50/py) interventions in the RCAVF group and 79 (0.94/py) in the prosthetic graft group were needed for access salvage (P = .077)., Conclusions: Although there were more interventions needed for access salvage in the patients with prosthetic graft implants, we may conclude that patients with poor forearm vessels do benefit from implantation of a prosthetic graft for vascular access.

Objective: To improve the precision of the estimates of primary failure rates and primary and secondary 1 year patency of radial-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas (RCAVF) for hemodialysis., Design: Meta-analysis., Materials and Methods: A Medline search was performed of the English language medical literature between January 1970 and October 2002. Key words that were searched included radiocephalic fistula, arteriovenous shunt, Brescia-Cimino fistula and patency. Primary failure, primary and secondary patency rates were analysed using the standard mixed effects model, which allows for variability between the different studies., Results: Eight prospective and 30 retrospective studies were included. The analysis showed a pooled estimated primary failure rate of 15.3% (95% CI: 12.7-18.3%). In addition, the pooled estimated primary and secondary patency rates of 62.5% (95% CI: 54.0-70.3%) and 66.0% (95% CI: 58.2-73.0%), respectively, were calculated. Subgroup analysis concerning various study characteristics, including study year, gender and age, did not reveal statistically significant differences., Conclusion: Although, the autogenous RCAVF is considered to be the primary choice for vascular access, this meta-analysis indicates a high primary failure rate and only moderate patency rates at 1 year of follow-up.

Introduction: Radiocephalic wrist arteriovenous fistulae (RCAVF) are the primary and best option for vascular access for haemodialysis treatment. However, 10-24% of these AVFs fail due directly to thrombosis and non-maturation. In a prospective study, the failure modes of radiocephalic AVFs and the impact of surgical and interventional treatment on fistula outcome were investigated., Methods: The rate of thrombosis and non-maturation was evaluated in 43 RCAVFs. The selection of RCAVF creation was made on preoperatively determined duplex parameters. Fistula function was evaluated post-operatively by clinical examination and non-invasively measured AVF blood flow. A policy of a liberal use of radiological and/or surgical revision of non-functioning RCAVFs was made on the basis of duplex measured blood flow and angiographically detected vessel stenosis., Results: Primary fistula function was achieved in 26 of 43 patients (60%). Non-maturation and thrombosis occurred in 14 (33%) and three (7%) patients, respectively. A total of 12 interventions (PTA 6; surgery 6) were needed, resulting in salvage of eight RCAVFs (47%). The blood flow in functioning AVFs was significantly higher compared to non-functioning AVFs at 1 (754 vs 440 cc/min), 7 (799 vs 524 cc/min) and 42 days (946 vs 532 cc/min) post-operatively. At the end, 34 RCAVFs (79%) became functional as vascular access for haemodialysis treatment., Conclusion: Primary RCAVFs have a high rate of failure. An aggressive approach towards early interventional treatment of these non-functional AVFs is worthwhile and leads to a considerable salvage rate. Early post-operative AVF flow measurement indicates the chance of successful maturation of RCAVF.

Objectives: This prospective randomised multicentre trial was conducted to test whether a new "closed" technique for in situ vein bypass would result in a lower frequency of wound complications, without negative effects on patency rates and without an intolerable increase in residual arteriovenous fistulae compared to the conventional "open" technique., Methods: We have developed a new "closed" technique using a co-axial catheter embolisation system for intra-operative coil embolisation of side branches, in order to avoid long incisions., Patients: In four centres and 95 patients, 97 in situ bypasses were performed: 47 "closed" and 50 "open". Randomisation was stratified for below knee femoropopliteal bypasses (60) and femorocrural bypasses (37). Indications were disabling intermittent claudication (29), restpain (26) or ulcers and/or necrosis (42)., Results: Postoperative mortality was 2% (one in the "closed", one in the "open" group). A total number of 16 (34%) wound complications (grade 1, 2 and 3) occurred in the closed group compared to 36 (72%) in the open group (p < 0.05). Deep wound complications (grade 2) occurred in six patients (13%) of the "closed" group, compared to 15 (30%) in the "open" group. In both groups, three patients (6%) developed deep wound complications including the bypass area (grade 3). In the "closed" group, 20 patients needed additional treatment for arteriovenous fistulae, compared to four in the "open" group. One-year patency rates did not show a statistically significant difference: primary patency rates were 65% and 61% and secondary patency rates were 86% and 76% respectively for the "closed" and "open" group., Conclusion: These results indicate that a "closed" technique reduces wound complication rate, without negative effects on the short term patency rates. The "closed" technique results in an increased number of postoperative treatments for residual arteriovenous fistulae.