Ulnobasilic arteriovenous fistulae for hemodialysis

An ulnobasilic arteriovenous (AV) fistula was constructed in 29 patients; i n one patient it was constructed twice. These were patients in whom the cla ssic AV fistula (radiocephalic) had either failed or was not possible due t o poor vein quality. Of the 30 ulnobasilic AV fistulae constructed, there w as primary non-functioning in 2 patients, and fistula was not used in 3 pat ients who soon underwent transplantation. In the remaining 24 patients, the ulnobasilic AV fistula has been successfully used for periods of between 4 weeks and 140 weeks. In all but 1 patient, the blood flow was adequate. An other patient developed irreversible edema of the hand following the fistul a surgery. In 2 of the patients with a primary non-functioning fistula, a s econd ulnobasilic AV fistula was constructed in the other hand and is funct ioning well.