title: A brief history of vascular access for hemodialysis: an unfinished story.
abstract: Progress in the development of permanent vascular access for hemodialysis has been much slower than progress in other areas of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patient care. This article provides a brief historical overview of the major means used for vascular access since the start of chronic hemodialysis. These access modalities include external shunts, arteriovenous fistulae, prosthetic arteriovenous grafts, needle-less access devices, and tunneled central venous catheters. Despite the evolution of access methodology, vascular access complications remain a major impediment to the full rehabilitation of the chronic hemodialysis patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kapoian
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends