title: Outcomes after ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula formation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula (UBAVF) is rarely used owing to perceived problems with poor patency and prolonged maturation times. We report outcomes after UBAVF formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who had a forearm UBAVF formed between October 1, 2002 and September 31, 2010 were identified from a prospectively maintained database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two UBAVFs were formed in 48 patients. The majority were male (77.1%), with a median (range) age of 69.5 (18-86) years. Primary and secondary patencies at 1, 3, and 5 years were 43%, 13%, 13%, and 54%, 18%, and 13%, respectively. Primary patencies were higher in those with previously functioning radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas on the same arm (P = 0.03). Thirty-six percent of UBAVFs became functional, with a median (range) time to maturation of 100 (32-471) days. Nine UBAVFs (17.3%) required revision surgery. Complications were rare (7.7%), with only one case of steal syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although UBAVF patency and functionality rates are low, we believe that these are acceptable, given the low risk of complications and preservation of precious upper-arm venous capital. Maturation can be prolonged, but when the forearm cephalic vein is unusable, UBAVFs can provide an alternative to upper-arm fistulas, and should be utilized more widely, especially in those with previously functioning ipsilateral radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, NIHR Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Wing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Regin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagaac
authors.forename: Gavin J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pettigrew
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Callaghan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult