Minimal incision superficialization of the brachial artery: a technical note

The Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy recommends superficialization of the brachial artery (BA) for vascular access in patients with comorbidities. We describe a novel minimal incision superficialization surgery of a BA through a single small incision. A 78-year-old male, who underwent chronic hemodialysis through an arterio-venous fistula, was transferred to our hospital for treatment of heart failure. We chose superficialization of the right BA for new vascular access. Under tumescent local analgesia, though a single 2-cm long incision, the BA was superficialized for 10-cm long. To complete procedures in the narrow and deep space, vessel branches were ligated by vascular clip and knot-less barbed suture was applied for closure of the brachial fascia beneath the BA. The hemodynamic status during the hemodialysis improved and the New York Heat Association (NYHA) classification grade improved from IV to II. This technique can be an alternative for arterio-venous fistula in patients with comorbidities.