Background: We aim to study the clinical effect of moxibustion at Laogong interval with Panax notoginseng on the short-term maturation and long-term patency of arteriovenous fistula. Methods: Seventy-four pre-dialysis uremic patients who received radial artery-cephalic vein fistula creations were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to the control group and experimental group. After arteriovenous fistula creations, the control group underwent handgrip exercise, and the experimental

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... received moxibustion at Laogong acupoint interval with Panax notoginseng. Patients were treated for 12 weeks and followed up for 24 weeks at the following time points: before creations and 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks after creations. The diameter of anastomosis, the diameter of draining-veins, the blood flow of draining-veins, the diameter of arteria brachialis, and the blood flow of arteria brachialis evaluated the maturation and patency of arteriovenous fistula. ELISA determined serum levels of ET and NO levels.Results: The maturity rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 4 weeks after arteriovenous fistula creations (P =0.048). The diameter of anastomosis, the diameter of draining veins, and the blood flow of draining veins increased in both groups during the whole 24 weeks. The diameter and blood flow of arteria brachialis ascended in both groups during the previous 12 weeks. Compared with the control group, moxibustion at Laogong interval with Panax notoginseng significantly improved the value of the diameter of draining-veins (P =0.016), the blood flow of draining-veins (P = 0.015), the diameter of arteria brachialis (P < 0.001), and the blood flow of arteria brachialis (P =0. 012) at 2 weeks, and enhanced the blood flow of draining-veins (P =0.029) and arteria brachialis (P < 0.001) at 12 weeks. Serum levels of ET were significantly lower (P =0.047), and serum levels of NO were markedly higher (P < 0.001) in the experimental group than that in the control group at 2 weeks after creations. Conclusion: Moxibustion at Laogong interval with Panax notoginseng was non-invasive and promoted the maturation of arteriovenous fistula at 4 weeks after creations. However, its long-term beneficial effect on patency after creations was not significant.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, No.ChiCTR1900024042. Registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx.