title: Cephalic vein and radial artery diameter in formation of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine the optimal range of cephalic vein and radial artery diameter following preoperative duplex imaging to enhance maturation and primary patency of Brescia-Cimino radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review and meta-aggregation of literature from 1966 to January 2015 in English language and adult subjects in Pubmed, OVID, CINHAL and Cochrane database was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This search produced a total of thirty-six (n = 36) articles. Following the application of recruitment criteria, only twelve articles (n = 12) were found eligible. Their quality was assessed by Oxford Critical Appraisal skills Programme (CASP) and their recommendation for practice was examined through National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current literature suggests that the optimal range of radial artery for maximum performance (maturation and primary patency) of RCAVF is at least 2 mm (level 2, grade a). The cephalic vein diameter of at least 2 mm (non-augmented) can result in best maturation and primary patency outcomes (level 2, grade a) and threshold below 1.5 mm is not advocated (level 2, grade b).
authors.affiliation: Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Essex - UK.|Medical Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, Essex - UK.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kordzadeh
authors.affiliation: Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Essex - UK.
authors.forename: Jameson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Essex - UK.
authors.forename: Yiannis P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Panayiotopoulos
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014654:Vascular Patency