Venous hypertension of the hand caused by subcutaneous arteriovenous fistulae established for hemodialysis.

Side-to-side arteriovenous fistulae established in patients on chronic intermittent hemodialysis can cause venous hypertension. This gives rise to pain, pigmentation and trophic ulcers. Four patients with these complications are described. In three patients, with a fistula between the radial artery and the cephalic vein, the thumb and the second and third fingers were affected. In the fourth patient, with a fistula between the ulnar artery and the basilic vein, the fourth and fifth fingers were involved. This finding suggests segmental venous drainage of the hand. All patients were cured by ligation of the distal vein. An end-of-vein-to-side-of-artery fistula does not cause the complication described, and for this reason is to be preferred.