The Radiobasilic Transposition on the Upper Arm

Abstract

Aim: The ideal vascular access for hemodialysis is through autologous arteriovenous fistulas that are from the distal to the proximal in the upper extremity. Using the brachial artery as the inflow artery increases the risk of developing complications, especially steal syndrome. In this study we aimed to explain the results of the arteriovenous fistulas that we performed with the technique of radiobasilic vein transposition that originated from the radial artery in the upper arm. Materials and Methods: Forty patients who had undergone radio-basilic transposition arteriovenous fistula operation between January 2009 and December 2012 were included in this retrospectively study. The recorded postoperative complications included steal syndrome, venous hypertension, and aneurysm. Results: In the follow-up period three patients developed aneurism. Steal syndrome and venous hypertension were observed in none of the patients. The mean follow-up duration was 28.99±1.57 months. The one-year and two-year primary (and secondary) patency rates were 76.6% and 49.5% (and 81.4% and 55.6%), respectively. Discussion and Conclusion: Steal syndrome is more frequently observed in arteriovenous fistulas that originate from brachial artery than from radial artery. Many researchers used the proximal radial artery as the inflow artery in order to avoid complications. We conclude that basilic vein transposition is safer against steal syndrome especially when performed as radiobasilic transposition arteriovenous fistula, and that the patency rates are coherent with the literature. However, we believe that comparative studies are needed. Keywords: Arteriovenous fistula; hemodialysis; basilic vein transposition Öz Amaç: Hemodiyaliz için ideal giriş yolu üst ekstremitede distalden proksimale doğru olan otolog arteryovenöz fistüllerdir. Brakiyal arteri giriş arteri olarak kullanmak, özellikle steal sendromu olmak üzere komplikasyon riskini attırır. Bu çalışmada üst ekstremitede radyal arterden orijin alan radyobazilik ven transpozisyonu tekniği ile yaptığımız arteryovenöz fistüllerin sonuçlarını açıklamayı amaçladık.