Since March 1988 we have performed 133 arteriovenous fistulae for hemodialysis in 121 patients with chronic renal failure. Of the 133 cases of arteriovenous fistulae, follow-up evaluation was possible for 80 cases which performed in 69 patients. The relation between blood flow and patency rate and duration of arteriovenous fistula was examined. The overall 6 - 12 - 18 -, and 24 - month patency rates of arteriovenous fistulae were 82%, 64%a, 62%, and 57%, respectively. The maximum blood flow was 150 ~ 350ml /min[mean 217.1$pm$44.27]. The patency duration was evaluated in patients divided into three groups owing to maximum blood flow through the fistulae. The range of maximum blood flow was 150 ~ 200ml /min for group A, 200 ~ 250ml /min for group B, and above 250ml /min for group C. The mean duration of the patency was 10.7$pm$7.60 months in group A, 14.9$pm$9.82 months in group B, and 21.6$pm$11.16 months in group C[p<0 05]. With increased maximum blood flow, the duration of the patency was longer in group A than group B and C [r=0.39, p<0. 05]. The maintenance blood flow was 100 ~ 250ml /min[mean 179.2$pm$37.26 ml/min]. When the maintenance blood flow was above 200ml /min, long-term patency rate was higher than the group below 200ml /min[r=0.48, p<0.01]. In the same range of blood flow, patency duration of the patients with using their own blood vessels were longer than the patients with using vascular graft for A-V fistula. We concluded that the patency of the arteriovenous fistulae was closely correlated with the blood flow through the fistulae.