Microsurgery in gaining paediatric vascular access for haemodialysis

One hundred and one surgical procedures performed in children for construction and maintenance of vascular accesses for haemodialysis were retrospectively analyzed. There were 86 operations performed to create a new fistula in patients without vascular access or with nonrecoverable failed angio-access. Fifteen surgical procedures were performed to treat fistula complications. The new fistulas were radiocephalic n = 60 (70%), ulnar-basilic n = 5 (5.8%), antecubital n = 9 (10.3%), and PTFE grafts n = 12 (14%). Microsurgical techniques were used in all cases, including PTFE graft fistulas. A microscope was used in 56 cases (55.4%) and magnifying loupes (x 2.5 magnification) in the rest of the operations. Early-failure rate for radiocephalic fistulas was 10%. Cumulative patency rates in radiocephalic fistulas were 79%, 75%, and 70% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. No statistical differences were found from the cumulative patency curve of 730 radial-cephalic fistulas performed in adults during the same period of time. Radiocephalic fistulas can be constructed in most paediatric cases using microsurgical technique. Elbow fistulas can be the second-choice vascular access, and PTFE grafts can be reserved for children with exhaustion of autologous veins. Brachial-jugular PTFE grafts can be used in cases of subclavian vein stenosis.