Preliminary balloon dilation of both saphenous fascia and the saphenous vein increases the below-knee fistula patency, but not maturation.

Objective: There is no reliable secondary site for fistula creation in patients with preclusions for further use of upper extremity vessels as viable hemodialysis access. Below-knee vessels resemble the forearm vascular anatomy and, therefore, methods to improve the outcomes of fistula creation at this level would also help to improve the quality of life for those patients. The aim of the present study was to examine the efforts to improve the functionality of below-knee fistulas in a sample of dialysis patients.