Comparison of arteriovenous fistulas constructed with main or internal branch of the cephalic vein: a retrospective analysis of 32 cases

Objective To evaluate the effect on the maturation of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) when using the internal branch of the cephalic vein compared with the main branch of the cephalic vein. Methods The study enrolled patients with end-stage renal disease and divided them into an internal branch group (AVF constructed using the internal branch of the cephalic vein) or a main branch group (AVF constructed using the main branch of the cephalic vein). The surgical outcomes including complications were observed in these patients after 12 weeks. Results Thirty-two patients with end-stage renal disease were included in the study. There were 16 patients in each group. The demographic and clinical characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. The diameter of the arteries and veins were not significantly different between the two groups before the operation. In the internal branch group, significantly more ( n = 7) patients failed to mature or required surgical intervention compared with the main branch group ( n = 1). Conclusion For veins of the same diameter, these findings suggest that constructing AVFs using the main branch of the cephalic vein instead of the internal branch was more suitable for patients with end-stage renal disease requiring haemodialysis