Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To explore the baseline characteristics of arm vessels evaluated by ultrasonography in patients with end stage renal disease so as to provide the reference for creation of arteriovenous fistula. Methods A total of 307 patients with end stage renal disease treated in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital from July 2016 to May 2020 were enrolled in this study. Duplex ultrasonography was used to evaluate the baseline characteristics of arm vessels, including internal diameter, intima-media thickness, calcification and hemodynamic parameters. Results The mean internal diameters (mean±SD) of forearm cephalic vein, upper arm cephalic vein, forearm basilic vein, upper arm basilic vein, median cubital vein and cubital perforating vein were (2.6±
0.9)mm, (3.6±1.4)mm, (2.4±0.8)mm, (4.6±1.1)mm, (2.9±1.7)mm and (3.1±1.0)mm, respectively. The mean internal diameters (mean± SD) of upper brachial artery, lower brachial artery, upper radial artery, lower radial artery, upper ulnar artery, lower ulnar artery were (4.1±0.9)mm, (4.1±0.7)mm, (2.7±0.6)mm, (2.0±0.5)mm, (3.6± 0.6)mm and (1.7±0.5)mm, respectively. The incidences of calcification in brachial artery, radial artery and ulnar artery were 8.8%, 15.9% and 23.4%, respectively. The mean peak systolic velocities (mean±SD) in brachial artery, radial artery and ulnar artery were (63.7±19.2)cm/s, (60.6±20.9)cm/s and (58.2±20.4)cm/s, respectively. Resistance indexes were all (0.9±0.1). The mean flow volume (mean±SD) in brachial artery was (55.1±36.9)ml/min. Conclusion Duplex ultrasonography has the advantage of noninvasive method to evaluate the baseline characteristics of arm vessels. Our study shows that the percentages of internal diameters meeting the basic requirement of arteriovenous fistula creation (≥2.0mm) in forearm cephalic vein, upper arm cephalic vein, forearm basilic vein, upper arm basilic vein, median cubital vein and cubital perforating vein were 79.5%, 88.7%, 70.7%, 98.6%, 73.3% and 88.9%, respectively; the percentages of internal diameters meeting the basic requirement of arteriovenous fistula creation (≥1.5mm) in brachial artery, radial artery and ulnar artery were 100.0%, 89.6% and 66.8%, respectively.

Key words: Arteriovenous fistula, Renal dialysis, Ultrasonography, End stage renal disease