title: Comparison of outcomes of arteriovenous grafts and fistulas at a single Veterans' Affairs medical center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Before 2003, almost all dialysis access procedures performed at the G.V. Montgomery Veterans' Affairs Medical Center were arteriovenous grafts. In mid-2003, it was decided to place fistulas in most patients. This study compared the patency rates and frequency of interventions to maintain function between the 2 procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patency rates for 64 grafts and 50 fistulas were computed using Kaplan-Meier life-tables and compared using the Cox-Mantel log- rank test. The frequency of interventions to maintain function was compared using a Poisson model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary patency of grafts at 1 and 2 years was 39% and 26%, and that of fistulas was 44% and 37%. Secondary patency of grafts at 1 and 2 years was 71% and 63%, and that of fistulas was 75% and 72%. Neither difference reached significance. The difference in interventions also was insignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Switching from grafts to fistulas did not significantly improve the patency and frequency of interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center, 1500 Woodrow Wilson Dr., Jackson, MS 39216, USA. david.snyder4@va.gov
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Charles P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Clericuzio
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005260:Female; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014654:Vascular Patency