Background: This study aims to investigate the midterm results of basilic vein transpositions performed for hemodialysis access.

Methods: A total of 38 consecutive patients (24 males, 14 females; mean age 54±2 years; range 28 to 71 years), who underwent basilic vein transposition surgery for hemodialysis access between January 2005 and May 2010 were included in the study. Demographic features and perioperative data with one-year primary and secondary patency along with complication rates were evaluated.

Results: The mean follow-up period was 18 months. Seventeen (44.7%) patients underwent primary superficialization and 21 (55.3%) patients underwent secondary superficialization. Nine (42.9%) of the patients undergoing secondary superficialization underwent a staged transposition procedure. During the follow-up period, access failure in primary and secondary transpositions were detected in five (29.4%) and eight (38%) patients, respectively. One-year patency rates for primary and secondary procedures were 70.5% and 61.9% respectively (p=0.4). Revision surgery was performed in one (2.6%) patient with a bleeding complication and related medial fascial compartment syndrome and in one (2.6%) patient with early fistula thrombosis that developed after syncope.

Conclusion: We think that basilic vein transposition procedures performed with both primary and secondary superficializations offer satisfactory results in the mid-term.

Keywords : Basilic vein transposition; brachial artery; hemodialysis