An observational study on transposed brachial artery ‒ Basilic vein AV fistula in vascular access for hemodialysis

Abstract

Background: Dialysis access in patients of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on long-term hemodialysis is a problem area. Patients with poor caliber veins distally on initial evaluation or with multiple fistula failures, basilic vein transposition is a good alternative. We present our experience with basilic vein transposition at our center. Methods: This study was a single-center observational study. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data from December 2013 to June 2019 was done. Qualitative variables were expressed as frequencies/percentages and compared between groups using the Chi-square test. Quantitative variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and compared between groups using unpaired t-test between groups and paired t-test within groups across follow-ups. Multiple linear regression analysis using a stepwise model selection tool was used to assess factors affecting the first cannulation. The best model was arrived in four steps where explanatory power (R2) increased from 66.6% to 79.3% (P 70 cm/s, fistula flow rate of >400 ml/min at 6 weeks, and fistula diameter >4.5 mm at 06 weeks.

Keywords

• arteriovenous fistula
• basilic vein transposition
• dialysis access
• maturation times
• single-stage and two-stage procedure