Abstract:

Objective: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) created for hemodialysis may be complicated by aneurysm formation. The aim of this article is to describe our experience with segmental saphenous graft interposition to treat AVF aneurysms. Material and Methods: Between June 2007 and Ju- ne 2011, 23 patients who admitted to our clinic with symptoms related to single or multiple AVF aneurysms were included in the study. Under general anesthesia, the aneurysms were resected and a reverse saphenous vein graft was implanted in an end-to-end manner, after inflow and outflow of aneurysmatic fistula tract was clamped. Results: Aneurysms were secondary to brachial-cepha- lic fistula in 16 (69.5%) patients and radial-cephalic fistula in 7 (30.5%) patients. The mean follow- up period was 40.2±9.4 months, with a range 13 to 61 months. The saphenous vein thrombosed in 3 patients in brachial-cephalic fistula and in 3 patients in radial-cephalic fistula groups. There we- re no vascular complications in the remaining. Conclusion: Our results show that this method pre- serves AVF functions and prevents the complications of the aneurysms. Preservation techniques such as segmental saphenous graft interposition may be performed for treating functioning AVF aneurysms.

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