title: U-vein compressor improves early haemodynamic outcomes in radiocephalic arterio-venous fistulae in under 2-mm superficial veins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we sought to determine the early postoperative results of arterio-venous fistulae (AVF) created by U-vein compressors with veins between 1.5 and 2 mm in size.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre-operative venous mapping was done. The fistula tract was marked at 0-, 4-, 8- and 12-cm points; 0 cm was the estimated point where the anastomosis would be done. With Doppler ultrasonography, transverse diameters in the estimated fistula tract were measured at the 0-, 4-, 8- and 12-cm points. A superficial vein that would be used as the fistula tract was dilated using U-vein compressors. In the first postoperative hour, the flow in the anastomosis, and the transverse diameter of the fistula tract at the 0-, 4-, 8- and 12-cm points were measured by Doppler ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients were included in the study. U-vein compressors were used for 20 patients. Postoperative expansion of vein diameters and postoperative flow velocities were found to be statistically significantly different in patients where a U-vein compressor had been used (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present a technique to dilate veins that are between 1.5 and 2 mm in diameter, which are generally accepted as poor vessels to create radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seren
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. farux@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Omer Faruk
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Cicek
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa Cuneyt
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cicek
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Umit
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Yener
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulaş
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muharrem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tola
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uzun
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D004106:Dilatation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery