Description:
Objectives. The aim of this study was to emphasize the importanceof surgical intervention perfotmed before development of arteriovenous fistula (AVF)aneurysm complications. Methods. The patients were categorized into two groups: Patients undergoing electivesurgery for autogenous AVF aneurysm were defined as elective group (Group 1), whereasthose who underwent emergency surgery due to ruptured aneurysmal fistulas weredefined as emergency group (Group 2). All elective cases were evaluated bydoppler ultrasonography before surgery. All patients had temporary hemodialysiscatheters. In the patients with salvaged fistulas, the fistulas was rested for1 week. A new fistula was created in patients with not salvaged fistula. Results. A total of 31 patients (54.8% male, mean age: 41.2 ± 14.7 years) were inGroup 1 and 7 patients (57.1% male, mean age: 53 ± 9.4 years) were in Group 2. Significantdifference was observed between two groups in terms of fistula preservation.Salvaged fistulas were significantly higher in the Group 1 than Group 2 (p = 0.003). In Kaplan-Meier curves,cumulative primary AVF patency rates at 1, 3 and 6 months were 96.3%, 81.5%,and 77.8% in Group 1 and 66.7%, 66.7%, and 66.7% in Group 2, respectively (log-rank;p = 0.536). Conclusions. Consultationof these cases with a cardiovascular surgeon before they reach the rupturestage is an important condition for both the patency of the fistula and thevital risk of the patient.