Comparison of basilic vein and polytetrafluoroethylene for brachial arteriovenous fistula.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare patency and complication rates between basilic vein and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for brachial arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) for long-term hemodialysis.

METHODS

All basilic vein and PTFE brachial AVF constructed between March 1988 and April 1993 were retrospectively reviewed. After construction of life-tables, log-rank testing was used to compare the primary patency rate of basilic vein AVF (n = 59) with the primary and secondary patency rates of PTFE AVF (n = 47). Complication rates were calculated for each type of fistula and compared by use of chi-squared testing.

RESULTS

The primary patency rate for basilic vein AVF (90%) was superior to that of PTFE AVF (70%) at 1 year (p < 0.01), and at 2 years (86% vs 49%, p < 0.001). Complications occurred two and a half times more frequently in the PTFE group than in the basilic vein group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Basilic vein AVF provided superior patency rates and lower complication rates compared with PTFE AVF. Prospective randomized trials comparing the two fistula types is required to firmly establish the basilic vein AVF as the alternative access procedure of choice after a failed or unconstructable radiocephalic fistula.