NERVE-CONDUCTION ABNORMALITIES IN THE ARMS OF PATIENTS WITH ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA

Fifteen patients with unilateral functioning arteriovenous fistula wer e assessed clinically and electromyographically to identify local neur ologic changes. Ten of the patients were symptomatic (motor and/or sen sory) and 5 were asymptomatic. Clinically, II patients had signs of a mild polyneuropathy: 2 patients of ulnar neuropathy, and I patient had signs of median neuropathy. A decrease of the above-elbow ulnar condu ction velocity was noted in the study group on the side of the functio nal fistula, and in the symptomatic patients only on the side of the n onfunctional/nonexisting fistula. We suggest that ulnar nerve vulnerab ility should be taken into consideration during construction of the fi stula, as well as during dialysis.