New method to create a vascular arteriovenous fistula in the arm with an endoscopic technique.

We describe a new technique in which the basilic vein is transposed subcutaneously with endoscopic surgery to create a vascular access in the arm. The vein was harvested with the Endoscopic Vascular Surgery System (Olympus Co, Tokyo, Japan). We could harvest a vessel about 25 cm long with endoscopy. After vessel transposition, an arteriovenous fistula was created in the usual manner. In all 10 patients, we created an effective blood access as scheduled before surgery. We could use the arteriovenous fistula 6 days after surgery and get blood flow in all cases.