BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are widely accepted as the preferred hemodialysis vascular access type. However, supporting data have failed to consider morbidity and mortality incurred during failed creation attempts and may therefore overstate potential advantages. This study compares survival, quality-adjusted survival, and costs among incident hemodialysis patients a...

INTRODUCTION With increasing numbers of patients diagnosed with ESRD, arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation has become a major factor in improving both dialysis related outcomes and quality of life of those patients. Compared to other types of access it has been established that a functional AVF access is the least likely to be associated with thrombosis, infection, hospital admissions, second...

PURPOSE A native vessel is preferable to an artificial graft for dialysis access. Duplex ultrasound (DUS) is noninvasive, cost-effective modality to evaluate the vessels for dialysis. The purpose of this study was to compare the rates of utilization of native vessels after preoperative imaging with DUS and contrast venography (CV). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review was performed on...

Effective haemodialysis (HD) requires a reliable vascular access (VA). Clinical practice guidelines strongly recommend the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as the preferred VA in HD patients. The creation of an AVF should be promoted in all eligible patients who choose HD, as it improves outcomes and reduces costs when compared with central venous catheters. Fistula eligibility is a 'work in progres...

OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the impact of CO(2) venography on the planning and outcome of native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation. METHODS Records of patients who underwent CO(2) venography prior to access surgery between January 2000 and December 2008 were reviewed. CO(2) venography was performed selectively in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in stage IV-V patients without suitabl...

OBJECTIVES To compare the characteristics of dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) with or without cerebral sinus thrombosis (CST), and to analyse the determinants of aggressive manifestations in patients with dural AVF. METHODS We investigated 69 patients aged 51.4 (SD 15) years who were diagnosed as having dural AVF. According to the location of the lesion and venous drainage pattern, dural A...

BACKGROUND Vascular access failure is a huge burden for patients undergoing hemodialysis. Many efforts have been made to maintain vascular access patency, including pharmacotherapy. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I), angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), and calcium channel blocker (CCB) are known for their antihypertensive and cardio-protective effects, however, their effects on lo...

INTRODUCTION A brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistula (BB-AVF) can provide access for haemodialysis in patients who are not eligible for a more superficial fistula. However, it is unclear whether one- or two-stage BB-AVF is the best option for patients. AIM To systematically assess the difference between both procedures in terms of access maturation, patency and postoperative complications. M...

Local complications of arterial puncture include hematoma, pseudoaneurysm and formation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The latter could cause ischemia of the particular extremity or can be hemodynamically significant especially in patients suffering from congestive heart failure. We report a case of femoro-femoral AVF after thin needle arterial p...