EFFICACY OF BASILIC VEIN TRANSPOSITION IN THE FOREARM FOR SECONDARY ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULA CREATION

Radiocephalic fistulae remain the first choice access for hemodialysis. The antecubital fossa cephalic vein is recommended as the next site. However, if the both options are failed basilic vein is the next option. We report a series of patients where the forearm basilic vein served as an alternative conduit for fistula creation. Over one year period, 15 patients who had a failed radiocephalic(RC) and brachiocephalic( BC) fistulae underwent a basilic vein transposition in forearm. The immediate results were satisfactory. All fistulae were successfully cannulated. Primary patency was 73.3% at 1 year. No ischemic or infectious complications were noted during the study period. The use of the forearm basilic vein to create a native arteriovenous fistula appears to be a good next option, thus preserving more proximal basilic veins for future use.