Preoperative ultrasound still valuable for radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula creation?

Radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula is a prototype hemodialysis access with small incidences of infection and distal ischemia, it spares proximal veins for future access use and it helps in the maturation of veins that may be used for more proximal access creations. This access type is prone to higher early failure rates compared to more proximal fistulas and there are unsolved uncertainties regarding exact ultrasound parameters predictive of fistula outcome. Evolution of ultrasound use has yielded several functional parameters that can be measured in addition to anatomical lumen sizes, which remain core parameters on which the decision to construct fistula in radio-cephalic forearm position is based. We propose to use arterial hyperemic response and wall morphology to aid in this decision when radial artery diameter falls in the interval with predictive uncertainty of 1.6-1.9 mm and to use venous flow pattern, respiratory variation, radial artery status and possibly venous distensibility when cephalic vein augmented diameter lies in the borderline interval of 2-2.4 mm. Ultrasound preoperative mapping and planning should be followed by expert surgical technique and several technique modifications of the classical end-to-side approach are possible to enhance operation outcome and diminish the incidence of stenosis most often present at juxta-anastomotic location. In our experience radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula remains the golden standard for hemodialysis access and preoperative ultrasound the single best imaging modality to plan the operation and predict its success.