title: The risks of vascular access.
abstract: Fatal vascular access hemorrhage is considered a rare complication of hemodialysis (HD). Ellingson et al. indicate otherwise, and their data suggest that it causes 0.4-1.6% of deaths in US HD patients. It is more common with grafts than fistulas, and many victims have had previous access hemorrhages. The widespread presumption that a fistula is the best, and a cuffed catheter the worst, access for HD patients needs reassessment, particularly in older, sicker patients.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Oliver
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000401:mortality*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000401:mortality*