Forearm Basilic Vein Transposition: A Single-Centre Experience

Introduction: Forearm basilic vein transposition (FBVT) is a viable alternative for arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) and can be used as secondary vascular access as well, as it allows for the use of veins that are remote from the arterial source of inflow. FBVT involves two main steps: first, the basilic vein is dissected from its original location; and second, the basilic vein is transposed to a subcutaneous tunnel on the volar aspect of the forearm and anastomosed to a suitable artery, usually the radial or ulnar artery.

Objective: This paper aims to present a series of FBVT cases performed at our hospital and present it as a viable option for secondary vascular access. We also aim to review the available literature relating to FBVT fistula in terms of surgical technique, patency rates, maturation time, and one-year outcome, and to establish a comparison with our clinical experience.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective descriptive case series. The data were collected from online medical records, and patients were contacted by telephone to make a follow-up visit. For a review of the literature, a search was done on PubMed for articles containing the following keywords in either the title or the abstract: basilic, transposition, fistula, and forearm. Similarly, a search was done on Google Scholar for articles with the following words in the title: basilic, transposition, and forearm. The data are expressed as mean and standard deviation. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 26.0 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).

Conclusion: The primary patency rate of FBVT in our study makes it a suitable solution to opt for before moving to AVGs. FBVT should be considered before moving more proximally in patients with inadequate forearm cephalic veins.