title: Early use of brachial-basilic arteriovenous fistula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term patency rate and complications associated with the use of the BBAVF in the early period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of all patients undergoing BBAVFs for hemodialysis access between June 2001 and June 2011 were retrospectively evaluated. We allowed the use of the BBAVF beginning two weeks after the fistula creation. The primary and secondary patencies were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 44 BBAVFs were created for 41 patients. Most (73.2%) of the patients had previously been on hemodialysis. A previous history of AVG creation was noted in 36.6% and previous insertion of a catheter was reported for 72.7% of the patients, respectively. The mean time to the first cannulation of the BBAVF was 18.8 days (13-42 days). In two cases, the BBAVFs were not used. Postoperative complications were noted in 2 cases, and included prolonged arm edema and thrombosis. There was no infection of the wound or steal syndrome. The primary and secondary patency rates were 68.1% and 84.2% at 1 year, 55.0% and 80.7% at 2 years, and 38.1% and 70.1% at 5 years, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the patency rates following the early use of the BBAVFs were not inferior to the previously reported patency rates in the literature. In cases where the patients already have an inserted central catheter, the early use of the BBAVFs decreases the complications associated with catheters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan. shmatsu@saitama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Harunobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Eisuke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitaoka
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Juno
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.forename: Tomonari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014680:Veins / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery