This study was designed to establish whether diabetes mellitus has an effect on the one-year patency rates of arterio-venous fistulas created as vascular access for haemodialysis. The authors also compare the patency rates of the most common types of fistulas. The authors’ series includes 47 patients who have an arterio-venous fistula at the Transplantation Surgery department in 1996 and who were followed-up for a period of one year. The cumulative one-year patency rate of fistulas 69.2% (both diabetic and non-diabetic). No statistically significant difference in primary and secondary patency rates of fistulas was found between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals after one year. The type of fistula (snuff-box vs. Cimino-Brescia) had no effect on primary or secondary patency rates.

        Key words: arteriovenous fistulae - diabetes mellitus - patency.