Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To evaluate the 6F urinary catheter used in the autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) surgery. Methods Patients who used 6F urinary catheter during AVF surgery in the Department of Nephrology, Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from October 2016 to March 2017 were recruited. Thirty-eight cases underwent AVF reconstruction (group A), and twenty cases had primary AVF surgery (group B). During primary AVF surgery, the distal end of the cephalic vein was ligated and a 6F urinary catheter was inserted from the venous stump to proximal end and 0.3～0.5 ml of normal saline was injected into the balloon at the tip of the catheter to repeatedly expand the vessel. During AVF reconstruction surgery, a 6F urinary catheter was inserted into the proximal end of the vein, and 0.5～0.8ml of normal saline was injected into the balloon at the tip of the catheter. The normal saline volume may be adjusted according to the venous diameter. Fresh thrombus can be taken out. In case of stenosis, the catheter can be reintroduced into the vein and indwelled in the stenosis site for more than 10 seconds, and the volume of normal saline may be increased. Results In group A, the rate of internal fistula recanalization was 100%. In group B, the diameters of the vessel before and after expansion were significant different (t=3.552, P＜0.001). Conclusion The use of 6F urinary catheter during AVF surgery was convenient and especially effective for the expansion of small veins. The tip balloon of the catheter can be used for dilatation of mild stenosis lesion and also for thrombectomy in some cases. This method is worthwhile to be widely used in clinical practice

Key words: Arteriovenous fistula, urinary catheter, hemodialysis