Predicting the maturity of haemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas with colour Doppler ultrasound: a single-centre study from China.

AIM

To explore the optimal vascular diameter and blood flow measured by ultrasound to predict fistula maturity in Chinese patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and thirty-two patients were enrolled in the study. The blood flow and the diameters of the brachial artery, radial artery, and cephalic vein were analysed according to clinical outcomes. The performances of blood flow, cephalic vein diameter, and the two factors combined in predicting fistula maturity were evaluated and the optimal cut-off values for Chinese patients were determined.

RESULTS

During a 6 month follow-up, 113 fistulas were classified as mature and 19 fistulas were classified as failure. In both groups, the diameters of the brachial and radial arteries increased gradually within 2 weeks post-surgery (p<0.05), and cephalic vein diameter and blood flow increased within 4 weeks post-surgery (p<0.05). The blood flow of the failure group was significantly lower than that of the mature group from the first day after creation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.95 (529 ml/min, the optimal cut-off value) for blood flow, 0.83 (5.2 mm) for cephalic vein diameter, and 0.96 for the two factors combined in predicting fistula maturity.

CONCLUSIONS

For Chinese patients, blood flow >529 ml/min could be used to predict fistula maturity and cephalic vein diameter >5.2 mm could be a supplement when necessary.