Conversion of arteriovenous shunts to fistulae for maintenance haemodialysis: its applicability in a developing country.
Arteriovenous shunts in the forearm of 30 patients with end-stage renal disease were converted to arteriovenous fistulae using the same, previously cannulated blood vessels. The shunts were done because these patients needed immediate dialysis. After 2-4 weeks when the cephalic veins had dilated sufficiently shunts were converted to fistulae. In 28 patients fistulae were usable within 24-48 hours without interruption of the dialysis schedule and without loss of access site. In one patient the use was delayed for 20 days while a local skin infection was treated. In another patient the fistulae did not function.
M L
ML
Murthy
M M
MM
Niyamathullah
S
S
Hariharan
M G
MG
Kirubakaran
J C
JC
Shastry
D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005402:Fistula; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*