Brachio-azygos transthoracic arteriovenous grafts for hemodialysis patients with bilateral central venous obstruction: A small case series.

Background: It is difficult to find a reliable outflow vein for vascular access in hemodialysis patients with bilateral central venous obstruction. The lower extremity veins are currently used as the most common alternative veins to make a new vascular access. However, in patients not amenable to make lower extremity access, intrathoracic vein should be considered as an outflow vein, but there are limitations in its use due to postoperative complications.

Methods: We introduce a series of cases that underwent arteriovenous graft operation using an intrathoracic vein, the azygos arch, as an outflow vein. Brachio-azygos transthoracic arteriovenous graft is a surgical procedure that anastomoses the azygos arch and the brachial artery with 7 mm ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft via lateral thoracotomy without median sternotomy.

Results: The chest tubes of the patients were removed on the third postoperative day and they discharged within a week. About 1 month later, hemodialysis was initiated through the BATAVG, and it has been used without access dysfunction.

Conclusion: Brachio-azygos transthoracic arteriovenous grafts were performed using the azygos arches without major complications. The azygos arch can be a good alternative outflow vein to make a new vascular access for hemodialysis patients with bilateral central venous obstruction.