title: Saphenous vein-popliteal artery fistula for chornic hemodialysis.
abstract: A saphenous vein arteriovenous fistula for chronic hemodialysis can be formed in the thigh by tunneling the vein subcutaneously, anastomosing the distal end to the popliteal artery, and leaving the proximal end attached to the femoral vein. Of seven fistulas, only one has thrombosed spontaneously. There were no instances of infection, vascular insufficiency, or high output cardiac failure. A saphenous vein-popliteal artery fistula can be a satisfactory method of maintaining vascular access in those patients who require chronic hemodialysis but who have no available sites in the upper extremities for construction of a fistula.
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*