Brachiobasilic fistulae: an upper limb autologous option for everyone?

Figures & data

Table 1. Basic demographic details of patients with BCF and BBF. Results are presented as a mean ± SEM or percentage of the total population.

	Brachiobasilic fistula	Brachiocephalic fistula	p values
Number of fistulas	51	50
Age (years)	57.4 ± 15	61.0 ± 15	0.24
Sex, N (%)
Male	23 (45)	22 (44)
Female	28 (55)	28 (56)
BMI at AVF creation	27.9 ± 5.7	26.4 ± 5.2	0.09
Morbidly obese (≥35), N	5	4
Dialysis status at AVF creation, N
Pre-D	14 (27%)	14 (28%)	0.89
Hemodialysis	37 (73%)	36 (72%)
Diabetes, N (%)	18 (35)	16 (32)	0.76
Peripheral vascular disease, N (%)	9 (18)	10 (20)	0.56
Coronary artery disease, N (%)	10 (20)	14 (28)	0.12

Table 2. Operative details for creation of BBF and BCF. Results are presented as a percentage of the total population.

	Brachiobasilic fistula	Brachiocephalic fistula
Number of surgeons	8	8
Anesthetic technique, N (%)
GA	42 (82)	7 (14)
LA	1 (2)	12 (24)
Block	8 (16)	31 (62)
Procedure type, N (%)		–
1 stage	38 (75%)
2 stage	13 (25%)
Patency on discharge (%)	96%	96%

Figure 1. Primary patency.

Figure 2. Primary-assisted patency.

Figure 3. Secondary patency.

Table 3. A comparison of primary-assisted patency, primary functional patency and secondary patency between the BBF and BCF cohort.

	Brachiobasilic fistula	Brachiocephalic fistula	p values
Primary-assisted patency			<0.01
3 month	71%	86%
6 month	59%	72%
12 month	33%	46%
Primary functional patency			0.04
3 month	74%	81%
6 month	58%	64%
12 month	32%	39%
Secondary patency			0.1
3 month	76%	88%
6 month	63%	72%
12 month	41%	46%

Table 4. Comparison of the number of interventional procedures performed in an attempt to maintain access patency between BCF and BBF.

	Brachiobasilic fistula	Brachiocephalic fistula	p values
Mean number of total  access interventions	0.33 (range, 0–3)	0.5 (range, 0–3)	<0.05
Interventions needed, N (%)			<0.05
0	39 (76%)	34 (68%)
1	8 (16%)	10 (20%)
2	3 (6%)	3 (6%)
3	1 (2%)	3 (6%)
Fistuloplasty	10	22	<0.001
Thrombectomy	4	2	0.14
Surgical declotting	3	1	0.24