A Retrospective Evaluation of Outcomes of Arteriovenous Fistulas for Hemodialysis

Aim: Chronic renal failure patients require arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) for hemodialysis purposes. The AVF should be open for a long time and should be easy to access. The aim of our study was to present our experience in AVF patients, to evaluate the complications and success rate. Methods: Medical records of 145 consecutive patients, in whom 160 AVF operations were performed between September 2014 and January 2017 for hemodialysis, were reviewed retrospectively. The non-dominant arm was preferred for surgery. AVF surgeries were assessed according to location, complication, and availability. Results: The mean age of the patients (90 males and 55 females) was 61.8±6.7 years. In six-month follow-up, the patency rate was 90% and the complication rate was 14.4%. Fistula thrombosis was the most common complication. Conclusion: The main purpose of AVFs is to be open for a long time and to provide sufficient flow. We believe that successful localization and preoperative evaluation will yield successful results