What are vein transposition AV fistulae and how successful are they?
When suitable superficial veins are not available for AV fistula construction, there are usually deeper veins that are suitable. These veins and their suitability can be identified by vessel mapping and then surgically repositioned (transposed) to a superficial location suitable for cannulation. Transposition can also be done for veins that may be superficial enough but not positioned for safe cannulation. In general, the success rates of vein transposition AV fistulae are similar to those of the conventional simple direct AV fistulae. What is critically important is that vein transpositions have expanded the AV fistula opportunities and options for patients who would otherwise receive an AV graft or catheter if only the more conventional constructions were employed. Adding transposition AV fistulae to the options, armamentarium is estimated to enable 80 to 90 percent of new patients to be candidates for an AV fistula. For information on a video training series for surgeons, click here
