Native Arterio-Venous Fistula Is the Vascular Access of Choice for Hemodialysis in End Stage Renal Disease

Objectives: The aim of the study was: Is primary Arterio-venous fistula the vascular access of choice for adequate dialysis and better patient outcome in end stage renal disease. Materials and Methods: The present study was done in the department of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Sher-i-Kashmir institute of medical sciences, Soura, Srinagar Kashmir. Native Arterio-Venous (AV) fistulas were made in the patients with end stage renal disease for performing hemodialysis. They were followed for patency and adequacy of blood flow during hemodialysis. All the patients were operated under local anesthesia. Results: The results showed that 77% of the AV fistulas based on radial artery with side-toside anastomosis and 80% of those with end-to-side anastomosis were functionally patent after one year. After two years, the patency rate in side-to-side and end-to-side anastomosis was 50% and 55%, respectively. In addition, the patency rate was 90% in brachial artery based AV fistula with end-to-side anastomosis, whether done primarily or secondarily, at the end of one year. However, a rapid decline was observed in the patency rate during the third year in both radial artery based and brachial artery based AV fistulas. Conclusions: We concluded that Arterialised arm superficial veins after primary AV fistula was the optimal and rational vascular access for hemodialysis providing adequate blood flow during this process. Besides, failure of primary AV fistula should be replaced by secondary AV fistula preferably based on brachial artery. ►Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Arterio-venous fistula is the vascular access of choice for adequate dialysis and better patient outcome in end stage renal disease.