Tagliatelle technique for arteriovenous fistula creation using a great saphenous vein semipanel graft

Abstract

Lower limb arteriovenous (AV) access creation can be attempted in patients where upper limb options are exhausted. Utilization of the great saphenous vein as a conduit for AV access has been limited due to its small diameter and resistance to dilatation. Lower limb AV fistulas today are mostly either prosthetic grafts with high rates of infection and thrombosis or transposition of the femoral vein that can lead to limb-threatening venous hypertension. In this report, we describe an optimized technique for reconstruction of the great saphenous vein to serve as a dialysis conduit. This semipanel graft reconstruction effectively doubles the diameter of the conduit without disruption of the deep venous circulation and also mitigates the requirement for a venovenous anastomosis.