title: Vascular access for haemodialysis.
abstract: In a fifteen month period (August 1987 to November 1988) forty patients requiring haemodialysis had 83 angioaccess procedures performed. Arteriovenous (AV) shunts and arteriovenous fistulae were the commonest procedures, comprising 56 (67%) and 20 (24%) of the patients respectively. Subclavian catheters and artificial grafts were used less frequently. Nephrologists and senior house officers attached to the Renal Unit were responsible for fashioning A-V shunts and inserting subclavian catheters while the A-V fistulae were fashioned by the urologists and vascular surgeons. The commonest complication of A-V shunts were clotting, occurring in 31 (55.4%) followed by bleeding in 14 (25%). Eight (32%) of the A-V fistulae never functioned from the beginning. It is noted that we are still very dependent on A-V shunts for vascular access in end stage renal disease (ESRF) patients and this is associated with an unacceptable level of complications. This dependency on A-V shunts in ESRD patients should be stopped or phased out. A-V fistulae should be used more frequently. Their constructions should be well thought out, executed and supervised by the few surgeons who are versed in them together with their follow-ups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Ngugi
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: McLigeyo
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kayima
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Otieno
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mogere
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors