From november, 1985 to May, 1993, 222 arteriovenous fistulae were made in 201 patients with chronic renal failure. Among them, a total of 183 arteriovenous fistulae in 173 patients were reviewed to evaluate the factors influencing patency rate of the vascular access. The results were revealed as follows: There were 102 men and 71 women,aged 10 to 76 years [mean = 45.7 years]. Sixteen patients of them had previous shunts. The procedures included establishment of 214 radiocephalic or brachioocephalic fistulae, 203 side to end, 9 side to side, 2 end to end, 2 autologous saphenous vein grafts, 6 Gore-Tex grafts. There were 28 early shunt failures[12%] due to use of 23 inadequate veins and 5 thrombosis.There were 32 late complications[14%]; 19 thrombosis, 4 aneurysm, 4 venous hypertension, 3 steal syndrome, 2 infections. There were 32 diabetic patients [17 %]. No significant differences in graft patency were noted between diabetic and nondiabetic individuals. There were no significant difference in graft patency between male and female. Overall shunt patency in 183 cases with chronic renal failure was 96% at I month, 95% at 3 months, 93% at I year, 91% at 2 years, 84% at 3 years, 56% at 5years.This Study showed that early postoperative thrombosis and diabetic vasculopathy were most causes of the vascular access failure and suggested that prevention of thrombi and well control of diabetes mellitus were most important to enhance patency rates of the vascular access.