title: Long-term patency of polytetrafluoroethylene graft fistulas.
abstract: Polytetrafluoroethylene grafts have been the mainstay for hemoaccess at our dialysis unit since 1976. Of 528 grafts placed in the forearm, 81 were evaluated for long-term patency and complication rates. When appropriate diagnostic studies and clinical signs delineate the cause of graft problems, a variety of surgical techniques can be used to maintain graft patency. The overall patency rate was 81 percent at 4.47 years. There were 3.5 complications per graft and 1 procedure per 1.25 years of follow-up. Over two thirds of the grafts had minimal complications and showed a 95 percent patency rate at 4.76 years. Impra grafts seemed to fare better than Gore-tex grafts, but their patency and duration were similar. Polytetrafluoroethylene grafts are easy to use, easy to revise and repair, have a long shelf life, and can withstand repeated dialysis access for many years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Schuman
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Standage
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene