Discrepancy between clinical maturation rate and Rule of 6s criteria in Japanese arteriovenous fistulas: A focus on vessel depth and cannulation site

High AVF clinical maturation rates were achieved rapidly in this Japanese cohort despite near-total failure to meet "Rule of 6s" criteria for size and flow. This success was strongly associated with a clinical practice prioritizing shallow vessel depth-often found in the elbow joint-a strategy enabled by plastic cannulas and low QB settings. Vessel depth, rather than diameter or flow, appears to be the most critical anatomical factor for clinical success in this setting.