There is ongoing debate about the use of transposed basilic vein (TBV) fistula and the choice between it and prosthetic arteriovenous graft (AVG). This paper reviews the available literature relating to TBV fistula in terms of surgical technique, patency rates, complications, access survival and compares it with prosthetic AVG for hemodialysis (HD).
Methods
Review of English language publications on TBV during the last two decades.
Findings
The rate of fistula maturation was higher in the two-stage group, although the mean diameter of the basilic vein was smaller. Dialysis via central venous catheters at time of surgery was most prevalent in patients undergoing staged procedures—14% in one-stage TBV and 43% in two-stage TBV. Several authors report 1-year cumulative patency rate of 47% to 96% and 59% to 90% for TBV and AVG, respectively. TBV provides a more cost-effective option and should be considered the next choice when primary autogenous fistulae are not possible, whereas AVGs are easier to create, can be punctured earlier and have a greater reintervention rate if the access fails.
Conclusions
This analysis shows that TBV has several advantages over AVG and provides a valuable access for HD but raises the need for a comparative trial between TBV and the newer generation AVGs. There is no clear superiority of the one-stage over the two-stage procedure.
National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC).www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov
2.
MehtaS.Statistical summary of clinical results of vascular access procedures for haemodialysis. In SommerB.G., HenryM.L. eds. Vascular access for hemodialysis-II.2nd ed.Chicago, IL: Gore; 1991: 145–157.
3.
KaufmanJ.L.The decline of the autogenous hemodialysis access site. Semin Dial.1995; 8 (2): 59–61.
4.
PisoniR.L., YoungE.W., DykstraD.M.Vascular access use in Europe and the United States: results from the DOPPS. Kidney Int.2002; 61 (1): 305–316.
5.
National Kidney Foundation. KDOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines and Clinical Practice Recommendations for 2006 Updates: Hemodialysis adequacy, peritoneal dialysis adequacy and vascular access. Am J Kidney Dis.2006; 48 (Suppl 1): S1–S322.
6.
HossnyA.Brachiobasilic AV fistulas, different surgical techniques and their effects on fistula patency. J Vasc Surg.2003; 37: 821–826.
7.
SidawyA.N., GrayR., BesarabA.Recommended standards for reports dealing with arteriovenous hemodialysis accesses. J Vasc Surg.2002; 35 (3): 603–610.
8.
Sidawy AN, Spergel LM, Besarab A, et al.; Society for Vascular Surgery.The Society for Vascular Surgery: clinical practice guidelines for the surgical placement and maintenance of arteriovenous hemodialysis access. J Vasc Surg.2008; 48 (5)(Suppl): 2S–25S.
9.
KakkosS.K., AndrzejewskiT., HaddadJ.A.Equivalent secondary patency rates of upper extremity Vectra vascular access grafts and transposed brachial-basilic fistulas with aggressive access surveillance and endovascular treatment. J Vasc Surg.2008; 47 (2): 407–414.
MorosettiM., CiprianiS., DominijanniS., PisaniG., FrattarelliD., BrunoF.Basilic vein transposition versus biosynthetic prosthesis as vascular access for hemodialysis. J Vasc Surg.2011; 54 (6): 1713–1719.
12.
KeuterX.H., De SmetA.A., KesselsA.G., van der SandeF.M., WeltenR.J., TordoirJ.H.A randomized multicenter study of the outcome of brachial-basilic arteriovenous fistula and prosthetic brachial-antecubital forearm loop as vascular access for hemodialysis. J Vasc Surg.2008; 47 (2): 395–401.
13.
CascardoS., AcchiardoS., BevenE.G., PopowniakK.L., NakamotoS.Proximal arteriovenous fistulae for hemodialysis when radial arteries are unavailable. Proc Eur Dial Transplant Assoc.1970; 7: 42–46.
14.
DagherF., GelberR., RamosE., SadlerJ.The use of basilic vein and brachial artery as an A-V fistula for long term hemodialysis. J Surg Res.1976; 20 (4): 373–376.
15.
ReynoldsT.S., ZayedM., KimK.M.A comparison between one- and two-stage brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistulas. J Vasc Surg.2011; 53 (6): 1632–1638, discussion 1639.
16.
KakkosS.K., HaddadG.K., WeaverM.R., HaddadR.K., ScullyM.M.Basilic vein transposition: what is the optimal technique?Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg.2010; 39 (5): 612–619.
17.
SmithG.E., GohilR., ChetterI.C.Factors affecting the patency of arteriovenous fistulas for dialysis access. J Vasc Surg.2012; 55 (3): 849–855.
MatsumotoH., YamamotoE., KamiyaC.Early use of brachial-basilic arteriovenous fistula. J Vasc Access.2012; 13 (2): 251–255.
20.
OliverM.J., McCannR.L., IndridasonO.S., ButterlyD.W., SchwabS.J.Comparison of transposed brachiobasilic fistulas to upper arm grafts and brachiocephalic fistulas. Kidney Int.2001; 60 (4): 1532–1539.
21.
ChaudharyF.A., ParvezZ.A modified technique of basilic vein transposition for haemodialysis. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak.2014; 24 (1): 47–51.
22.
PaulsonK.A., GordonV., FlynnL., LorelliD.Modified two-stage basilic vein transposition for hemodialysis access. Am J Surg.2011; 202 (2): 184–187.
23.
KorkutA.K., KosemM.Superficialization of the basilic vein technique in brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistula: surgical experience of 350 cases during 4 years period. Ann Vasc Surg.2010; 24 (6): 762–767.
24.
VeeramaniM., VyasJ., SabnisR., DesaiM.Small incision basilic vein transposition technique: a good alternative to standard method. Indian J Urol.2010; 26 (1): 145–147.
HillA.A., VasudevanT., YoungN.P.Use of an implantable needle guide to access difficult or impossible to cannulate arteriovenous fistulae using the buttonhole technique. J Vasc Access.2013; 14 (2): 164–169.
KarakayaliF.Y., SevmisS., BasaranC.Relationship of preoperative venous and arterial imaging findings to outcomes of brachio-basilic transposition fistulae for hemodialysis: a prospective clinical study. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg.2008; 35 (2): 208–213.
32.
GlassC., PorterJ., SinghM., GillespieD., YoungK., IlligK.A large-scale study of the upper arm basilic transposition for hemodialysis. Ann Vasc Surg.2010; 24 (1): 85–91.
33.
VassalottiJ.A., FalkA., CohlE.D., UribarriJ., TeodorescuV.Obese and non-obese hemodialysis patients have a similar prevalence of functioning arteriovenous fistula using pre-operative vein mapping. Clin Nephrol.2002; 58 (3): 211–214.
34.
PassmanM.A., CriadoE., FarberM.A.Efficacy of color flow duplex imaging for proximal upper extremity venous outflow obstruction in hemodialysis patients. J Vasc Surg.1998; 28 (5): 869–875.
35.
SmitsJ.H., BosC., ElgersmaO.E.Hemodialysis access imaging: comparison of flow-interrupted contrast-enhanced MR angiography and digital subtraction angiography. Radiology.2002; 225 (3): 829–834.
36.
WealeA.R., BevisP., NearyW.D., LearP.A., MitchellD.C.A comparison between transposed brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistulas and prosthetic brachioaxillary access grafts for vascular access for hemodialysis. J Vasc Surg.2007; 46 (5): 997–1004.
37.
OzcanS., GürA.K., YenerA.U., OdabaşiD.Comparison of one- and two-stage basilic vein transposition for arterio-venous fistula formation in haemodialysis patients: preliminary results. Cardiovasc J Afr.2013; 24 (9-10): 364–368.
38.
AgarwalA., MantellM., CohenR., YanY., TrerotolaS., ClarkT.W.Outcomes of single-stage compared to two-stage basilic vein transposition fistulae. Semin Dial.2014; 27 (3): 298–302.
39.
SyedF.A., SmolockC.J., DuranC.Comparison of outcomes of one-stage basilic vein transpositions and two-stage basilic vein transpositions. Ann Vasc Surg.2012; 26 (6): 852–857.
40.
VrakasG., DefigueiredoF., TurnerS., JonesC., TaylorJ., CalderF.A comparison of the outcomes of one-stage and two-stage brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistulas. J Vasc Surg.2013; 58 (5): 1300–1304.
BeaulieuM.C., GabanaC., RoseC., MacDonaldP.S., ClementJ., KiaiiM.Stenosis at the area of transposition—an under-recognized complication of transposed brachiobasilic fistulas. J Vasc Access.2007; 8 (4): 268–274.
43.
TorinaP.J., WestheimerE.F., SchanzerH.R.Brachial vein transposition arteriovenous fistula: is it an acceptable option for chronic dialysis vascular access?J Vasc Access.2008; 9 (1): 39–44.
44.
DavoudiM., TayebiP., BeheshtianA.Primary patency time of basilic vein transposition versus prosthetic brachioaxillary access grafts in hemodialysis patients. J Vasc Access.2013; 14 (2): 111–115.
Sala AlmonacilV., Plaza MartínezA., Zaragozá GarcíaJ.Comparison between autogenous brachial-basilic upper arm transposition fistulas and prosthetic brachial-axillary vascular accesses for hemodialysis. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino).2011; 52 (5): 725–730.
47.
ChemlaE.S., MorsyM.A.Is basilic vein transposition a real alternative to an arteriovenous bypass graft? A prospective study. Semin Dial.2008; 21 (4): 352–356.
48.
BaselH., EkimH., OdabasiD., KiymazA., AydinC., DostbilA.Basilic vein transposition fistulas versus prosthetic bridge grafts in patients with end-stage renal failure. Ann Vasc Surg.2011; 25 (5): 634–639.
49.
WonT., MinS.K., JangJ.W.Early result of arteriovenous graft with deep forearm veins as an outflow in hemodialysis patients. Ann Vasc Surg.2002; 16 (4): 501–504.
50.
TordoirJ.H., HofstraL., LeunissenK.M., KitslaarP.J.Early experience with stretch polytetrafluoroethylene grafts for haemodialysis access surgery: results of a prospective randomised study. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg.1995; 9 (3): 305–309.
51.
PoloJ.R., LigeroJ.M., Diaz-CartelleJ., Garcia-PajaresR., CerveraT., ReparazL.Randomized comparison of 6-mm straight grafts versus 6- to 8-mm tapered grafts for brachial-axillary dialysis access. J Vasc Surg.2004; 40 (2): 319–324.
52.
KakkosS.K., HaddadG.K., HaddadJ.A., ScullyM.M.Secondary patency of thrombosed prosthetic vascular access grafts with aggressive surveillance, monitoring and endovascular management. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg.2008; 36 (3): 356–365.
BhandariS., WilkinsonA., SellarsL.Saphenous vein forearm grafts and gortex thigh grafts as alternative forms of vascular access. Clin Nephrol.1995; 44 (5): 325–328.
55.
SafaA.A., ValjiK., RobertsA.C., ZieglerT.W., HyeR.J., OglevieS.B.Detection and treatment of dysfunctional hemodialysis access grafts: effect of a surveillance program on graft patency and the incidence of thrombosis. Radiology.1996; 199 (3): 653–657.
56.
MillerP.E., CarltonD., DeierhoiM.H., ReddenD.T., AllonM.Natural history of arteriovenous grafts in hemodialysis patients. Am J Kidney Dis.2000; 36 (1): 68–74.
