Tips and tricks in creation of forearm arteriovenous fistulae

Forearm arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a direct anastomosis between the radial artery and the cephalic vein or the ulnar artery and the basilic vein, which are small-caliber vessels. The surgical technique must be precise to avoid postoperative stenosis of the anastomosis which may result in early thrombosis or nonmaturation. In our experience, microsurgery and preventive hemostasis are two major contributions to creation of forearm AVF. Using these techniques, construction of a radial-cephalic fistula was possible in 78% of children in our hospital, with 60% secondary patency rates at 4 years. In a personal unpublished series, 69% of the first arteriovenous angioaccess of adult patients were forearm fistulae, with 63% and 91% primary and secondary 1-year patency rates, respectively. Finally, 68% primary patency and 96% secondary patency rates at 1 year were reported by Pirozzi et al. in adults with an internal diameter of <1.6 mm in the radial artery.