title: One-year efficacy of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft in eighty-three hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our aim was to evaluate the patency and efficacy of expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular graft in hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study from January 1999 to January 2001 at Sina hospital 41 patients underwent implantation of 6-mm vascular grafts and 42 underwent implantation of 8-mm grafts in order to make vascular assess for hemodialysis. They were followed up to 12 months, observing the complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean patients' age was 52.2 years. Thirty-seven of them were females and 46 were males. Over a 12 months period of follow-up, 12 cases of graft infection (14.5%), 21 cases of thrombosis (25.3%), 7 cases with both complications (8.4%), and 1 case of pseudoaneurism (1.2%) were observed. One-year patency rate was 34.9%. Diabetes was the only factor associated with lower patency rate (27% versus 57%, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ePTFE vascular graft seems to be an appropriate substitute for arteriovenous fistula as a vascular assess in hemodialysis patients. Educating patients and good care can decrease the rate of infection, thrombosis, and other complications, resulting in a better patency and lower morbidity rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Afshar
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salimi
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sanavi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Niazi
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Modaghegh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fallah