Incidence of A-V Fistulas after Renal Biopsy of Native and Transplanted Kidney - Two Centers Experience.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to make a retrospective analysis of the incidence of AV fistulas after renal biopsy (RB) of native and transplanted kidney.


METHODS
Five hundred and sixteen (516) RB were analyzed. One hundred twenty nine (129) were native kidneys RB performed in Clinic of Nephrology (CN), 190 were performed in Clinic of Nephrology and transplantation (CNT) and 197 were transplanted kidney biopsies from the same clinic. Biopsy technique type Gun with needle 14G, 16 and 18 G was used in CN, CNT used the same technique with needles 16G. Doppler ultrasound was made for A-V fistulas diagnosis.


RESULTS
The A-V fistulas incidence was 0.8%. The frequency of A-V fistulas registered in CN was significantly higher than that registered in CNT (2.3% vs. 0.5%, p < 0.01). Biopsies performed by 14 G needles provide a higher percentage of A-V fistulas compared to those done by 16 G. (3.3% vs. 2.4%, p < 0.5). The frequency of the A-V fistulas in native and transplanted kidneys in CNT was similar (0.5% vs. 0.5%, p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The A-V fistulas incidence is very low. The needle thickness is an important factor relevant to the risk of occurrence of A-V fistulas.
Department of Nephrology, University Hospital "Aleksandrovska", Sofia, Bulgaria.
Mila
M
Lubomirova
Department of Nephrology, University Hospital "Aleksandrovska", Sofia, Bulgaria.
Rumiana
R
Krasteva
Department of Nephrology, University Hospital "Aleksandrovska", Sofia, Bulgaria.
Boris
B
Bogov
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, University Hospital "Aleksandrovska", Sofia, Bulgaria.
Emil
E
Paskalev
A-V fistula; Doppler ultrasound; renal biopsy