EVIDENCE BASED COMPARISON OF BASILIC VEIN SUPERFICIALIZATION VERSUS SYNTHETIC POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE (PTFE) GRAFTS FOR HEMODIALYSIS

Aim: To use evidence based data to compare basilic vein superficialization & synthetic graft for hemodialysis. 
Patients and methods: Two groups of patients: Group 1: 50 patients with basilic vein superficialization . 
Group 2: 50 patients with synthetic PTFE graft. The comparison includes: indications, patency rates using and complications. 
Results: Statistical analysis of the results for both groups was done to determine the indications, type of anesthesia used, time consumed in operation theatre primary & secondary patency rate & complications. 
Functional patency rate at one & two years was better in group 1 than group 2 (P< 0.05) which is statistically significant. 
In group 1 local anesthesia was more used than group 2 and with less need for additional sedation, but the difference was not significant. 
The mean time consumed for operation of prosthetic graft is(54.6+10.6 min) which was shorter than that used for 
superficialization of the basilic vein but this was not statistically significant. 
As regarding complications: Infection, thrombosis and pseudoaneurysms were statistically significant higher in group2 than group1, while the rate of bleeding, venous hypertension & steel were also higher in group 2 but the difference was not statistically significant. 
The role of successful endovascular management of segmental stenosis was statistically significantly higher in group 1. 
Conclusion: Superficialization of the basilica vein provides superior patency and less complication rates compared to 
synthetic PTEF graft