Background: A patients with chronic renal disaese for haemodialysis require a permanent arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) which has a good long-term patency and a low complication rate. The objective of this study was to determine early and late-term complications of AVFs that need to surgical revision.

Methods: Twentytwo patients (called as Group 1) who operated from early (first 48 hours) complications of AVFs during the period between january’90 and october’99 in Cardiovasculary Surgery Departments in Pamukkale University and İzmir Atatürk Education and Traning Hospitals was included to this study. Also, 33 patients (called as Group 2) admitting to our hospital from late-term complications of AVFs that need to surgical revision during the period between september’98 and october’99 was included to this study.

Results: Surgical revision was performed in 11 patients (50%) due to thrombosis, in 8 patients (%36.4) due to hemaetom and in 3 patients (13.6%) due to hemorrhage in Group 1. Surgical revision was performed in 26 patients (79%) due to thrombosis, in 2 patients (%6) due to oedema, in 1 patients (3%) due to arterial steal, in 3 patients (9%) due to peudoaneurysm and in 1 patients (3%) due to graft thrombosis and graft infection in Group 2.

Conclusions: Fistula thrombosis is the most common complication of AVFs. A new strategies can be devoloped in order to maximize primary and secondary fistula patency and to prolong the use of AVFs and to decrease morbidity and mortality of the patients with AVFs.

Keywords : Arteriovenous fistula, complications, revision