Methods: Between January 2006 and January 2012, 170 patients (74 males, 96 females; mean age 60.7±9.1 years; range 31 to 83 years) who underwent basilic vein superficialization surgery in our clinic were included. All patients were examined under Doppler ultrasonography preoperatively. Demographic data of the patients, maturation time and complications were recorded. The mean follow-up was 12 months.

Results: Non-dominant upper limb was preferred for surgery. Of the 170 patients who were operated, 166 (97.6%) underwent hemodialysis. The mean maturation time was 61 days. Massive bleeding in the postoperative period occurred in two patients (1.2%). Wound infection was observed in eight patients (4.7%) in the early postoperative period. The most common reason for primary failure was thrombosis, which was observed in 48 patients (28.2%). The primary and secondary patency rates of the fistulas were 77% and 82%, respectively at one-year.

Conclusion: Arteriovenous fistula formation through superficialization of the basilic vein offers satisfactory results in chronic hemodialysis patients with reasonable postoperative complication rate.