Proximal forearm fistula for maintenance hemodialysis

Effective hemodialysis demands ready access to the peripheral circulation. For brief courses of treatment, the standard Quinton-Scribher Silastic Teflon Shunt [1] successfully fulfills this requirement. However, infection and thrombosis make such shunts unsuitable for use in maintenance hemodialysis. In 1966, Brescia, Cimino, and Hurlwith introduced a surgically–created fistula between the cephalic vein and the radial artery at the wrist [2]. These fistulae exhibit increased duration of patency, making them extremely useful for long-term hemodialysis