title: Long-term follow-up of 6-8 mm brachioaxillary polytetrafluorethylene grafts for hemodialysis.
abstract: Eight millimeter expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) grafts, tapered to 6 mm at the arterial site, are used by our group in the upper arm in order to avoid midgraft stenosis observed with other graft sizes. Long-term results (1-12 years) on 157 6-8 mm brachioaxillary e-PTFE grafts (Gore-Tex) are analyzed. Early failure was found in 4 grafts (2.5%). The rate of late complications was 0.37 episodes per graft-year. Steal syndrome, found in 4 cases (2.5%), was successfully treated in 3 cases by graft banding. Neither midgraft nor arterial anastomotic stenosis was observed in the 63 grafts requiring surgical thrombectomy or fistulography. The primary patency rates were 73%, 53%, and 41% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The secondary patency rates were 91%, 80%, and 72% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Comparison between both curves by the log rank test was significant (p < 0.001) expressing the efficiency of rescue surgery. We conclude that a 6-8 mm graft can be successfully used for dialysis in the brachioaxillary position.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tejedor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanabia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calleja
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gómez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D001916:Brachial Artery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene