Arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis. A report of 112 consecutive cases.

Arterio-venous fistula of Brescia was created in 112 consecutive patients during a five year period from May 1983 at King Fahd University Hospital of King Faisal University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. These fistulae were created for hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal failure. There were 67 males and 45 females. The youngest patient was 13 years and the oldest 75 years. Complications were negligible (0.85%), even-though 31% were diabetics and 24% had sickle cell hemoglobinopathy. The arteriovenous fistula failed in 6 patients and the patency rate was 94.6%. The minimum follow up was three months and the maximum fifty-two months. The end-to-side anastomosis gave better results. For long term dialysis arterio-venous fistula of Brescia should remain as the first choice.