Transposition of the superficial femoral artery combined with ultrasound-guided returning-venous cannulation as a last resort for vascular access in a multi-complicated hemodialysis patient

Abstract

A superficialized artery as a blood-drawing route could be an option for vascular access (VA) in hemodialysis patients with cardiac failure, vessel damage, steal syndrome, and venous hypertension, and it could be a secondary VA option in those with repetitive vascular access troubles, routinely requiring a blood-returning venous route. The brachial artery is preferably used for superficialization due to the benefit of its appropriate diameter for cannulation, procedural ease of surgery under local anesthesia, and usable subcutaneous vein for blood-returning route in the upper limb. The superficial femoral artery (SFA) has also been reported as a candidate for arterial transposition; however, its subcutaneous transposition could have difficulties in requiring general anesthesia and securing blood-inflow-venous routes. We experienced a multi-complicated hemodialysis patient who had intractable tunneled-cuffed catheter-related bacteremia and right atrial thrombosis, low cardiac function with bilateral proximal bifurcation of the brachial artery at the axilla, and damaged cutaneous veins in the upper limb. Herein, we report a case of successful superficialization of the SFA under ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia combined with local anesthesia and intravenous sedation, which could be feasible as a blood-drawing route with ultrasound-guided ipsilateral greater saphenous vein cannulation during chronic hemodialysis. Assisted by ultrasound-guided venous cannulation in the ipsilateral lower limb, cutaneous repositioning of the SFA could be a viable and acceptable option for VA in hemodialysis patients with a multitude of complications, wherein the possibilities of VAs of arteriovenous access, arterial superficialization using vessels in the upper extremity, or artificial devices should be eliminated.