COMPARISON OF BASILIC VEIN AND POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE FOR BRACHIAL ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare patency and complication rates between basilic vein and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for bra chial arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) for long-term hemodialysis. Methods : All basilic vein and PTFE brachial AVF constructed between March 198 8 and April 1993 were retrospectively reviewed. After construction of life-tables, fog-rank testing was used to compare the primary patency rate of basilic vein AVF (n = 59) with the primary and secondary paten cy rates of PTFE AVF (n = 47). Complication rates were calculated for each type of fistula and compared by use of chi-squared testing. Resul ts: The primary patency rate for basilic vein AVF (90%) was superior t o that of PTFE AVF (70%) at 1 year (p < 0.01), and at 2 years (86% vs 49%,p < 0.001). Complications occurred two and a half times more frequ ently in the PTFE group than in the basilic vein group (p < 0.05). Con clusions: Basilic vein AVF provided superior patency rates and lower c omplication rates compared with PTFE AVF. Prospective randomized trial s comparing the two fistula types is required to firmly establish the basilic vein AVF as the alternative access procedure of choice after a failed or unconstructable radiocephalic fistula.