title: Long-term outcome of a cuffed expanded PTFE graft for hemodialysis vascular access.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Development of venous outflow stenosis has been a major obstacle in maintaining the patency of dialysis vascular grafts. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed the long-term results of cuffed expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and non-cuffed (standard) ePTFE grafts placed for hemodialysis access.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 67 patients who underwent placement of either cuffed (n = 41) or standard (n = 26) ePTFE grafts were retrospectively analyzed. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, gender, cause of end-stage renal disease, and anatomic placement of the graft. Endpoints consisted of primary (without any intervention) and secondary (with radiological or surgical intervention) graft patency rates at 1-3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a trend toward better primary graft patency rates in the cuffed versus the standard ePTFE: 37.7% vs. 25.7% at 1 year, 35% vs. 10.3% at 2 years, 28% vs. 5.1% at 3 years, respectively (p = 0.086, Kaplan-Meier). Secondary patency rates in the cuffed group were significantly superior (p = 0.047) to those in the standard group (81.8% vs. 56.1% at 1 year, 61.8% vs. 46.3% at 2 years, 51.5% vs. 33.1% at 3 years, respectively). Thrombosis as a cause of complete graft failure was significantly higher (34%) in the standard group than in the cuffed group (9%) (p = 0.0125).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to the standard ePTFE, the cuffed ePTFE graft provided better long-term outcome, especially in terms of secondary patency rates after radiological intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Transplant Center, White 510, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsoulfas
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hertl
authors.forename: Dicken S C
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Nahel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: Francis L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Delmonico
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schoenfeld
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawai
mesh_terms: D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene