Abstract

 Background & Aims : Malfunction of arteriovenous fistulas in dialysis patients has many complications such as cardiovascular complications which increases morbidity in these patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the blood flow in dialysis patients´ fistulas.

  Materials & methods: From November 2007 to March 2008, we studied on 100 dialysis patients having had AVF, and gathered the necessary data such as the type of fistula, the blood flow of fistula, the age, and the sex of the patients, after that we processed all data.

  Results: From 100 patients, 56 were male and 44 female. Among the 56 male patients of our study, 29 of them (51/8%) and among the 44 female patients, 27 of them (61/4%) and overall 56% of all the patients had high flow fistulas. Generally, among the 37 brachial fistulas, 30 of them (81/08%) and among the 63 radial fistulas 26 of them (41/3%) had high flow rates. The mean flow rate of all the fistulas was 1741 ml/min.

  Conclusion: There is a high level of abnormalities in arteriovenous fistulas of dialysis patients such as high flow rates, especially in brachial fistulas which leads to many serious complications but fortunately, by means of color-Doppler ultrasound we can help the surgeon to operate a more standard fistula and also detect the abnormalities earlier and select the best treatment for them.

 �

  Keywords: Arteriovenous fistulas, Dialysis patients, Color-Doppler ultrasound

  Address: Department of Radiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Tel: (+98) 09143480425

  E-mail: mohamadi_afshin@yahoo.com

  Source: UMJ 2009: 20(2): 162 ISSN: 1027-3727