Anatomic features in preoprative vascular mapping by color doppler ultrasoun

Background: Nowadays preoperative vascular mapping with doppler ultrasound (DU) is a standard procedure. Classically arterial morphology and flow is evaluated in umeral, cubital and radial arteries; deep venous system is evaluated for morphology and patency, and superficial venous system is evaluated for cephalic and basilic veins in proximal and distal segments of the arm and forearm. Different anatomic variants are described. Our aim was to evaluate the anatomical features found by colored DU between January 2011 and December 2012. Materials and Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 58 patients referred by nephrology department for primary AV access with colored DU for vascular mapping. Results: 60 DU were performed, all by the same specialized in AV access radiologist. We registered 38 anatomically normal DU, and 22 (36.7%) with vascular anatomic variants. 3 arterial variants were found - 1 absence of radial artery, 1 absence of the cubital artery and 1 subcutaneous radial artery – 3 deep venous system variants were found - 2 cases of duplication of the axilary vein, and one case of anterior positioning regarding to umeral artery of the external umeral vein - 17 superficial venous system variants were found: 3 regarding to basilica vein (absent in two cases and atrophic in another) and 12 cases regarding to cephalic vein (absent or atrophic in 12 cases; 2 cases in which the cephalic vein was subcutaneous in the forearm and arm and one case in which cephalic vein communicates with the deep system above the elbow. Conclusions: The number of anatomic variants accounts for 36,7% in our study, mainly regarding to the cephalic vein (54.5% of all variants) frequently used in for native primary AV access. The knowledge of these anatomical features allows the creation of the best possible and successful AV access. Thus reinforcing the importance of preoperative vascular mapping by a specialized radiologist