ProCol vascular bioprosthesis for vascular access: midterm results.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the ProCol vascular bioprostheses as vascular access (VA) material, especially in patients with a history of prior failed access.


METHODS
During a 20-month period, 25 arteriovenous (AV) bovine vein grafts were placed in 24 hemodialysis (HD) patients for VA. All patients presented with failed autologous access sites.


RESULTS
Graft placement was successful in all patients with no procedure-related complications. Follow-up from 6-26 months gave primary 6-month, 12-month and 24-month patency rates of, respectively, 90%, 80% and 70%. Graft characteristics in cannulation and hemostasis were very satisfying.


CONCLUSIONS
Our midterm results demonstrated that the ProCol vascular bioprosthesis was a promising material for VA with good patency and low complication rates.
Hatzibaloglou
A
A
1st Surgical and 1st Medical Department, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Velissaris
I
I
Kaitzis
D
D
Grekas
D
D
Avdelidou
A
A
Kiskinis
D
D