Color Doppler Ultrasonography Findings Of Arteriovenous Fistula Dysfunction In Hemodialysis Patients

The purpose of this study is to assess the color doppler ultrasound findings in the hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula dysfunction/afunction. In this retrospective study, we searched the dossier of forty- five patients underwent to color doppler ultrasound examination because of inadequate dialysis. This color doppler ultrasound findings were compared with the literature. Twenty-seven (60%) of this 45 hemodialysis (HD) patients were female, 18 (%40) were male and the mean age was 55.15±15.03 (16-87). Twenty-eight of 45 patients have radiocephalic, 17 patients have brachiocephalic and brachiobasilic native arteriovenous fistula. Stenosis were detected in 36 HD patients, two of them settled in supporter arteries, 5 stenosis were on the level of anastomosis, 19 stenosis localized in the first segment after anastomosis and 10 stenosis settled on distal part of the first segment. Central venous oclusion were found in 4 of patients, whereas aneurysms were found in 6 patients. Seven of 13 thrombosed arteriovenous fistula were nonfunctional and the thromboses occluded the lumen of fistula. The thromboses settled in the anevrysmatic dilatation in others cases. The doppler Ultrasound examination performed well skilled is very usefull methods for diagnosis of arteriovenous fistula dysfunction.