title: Biological vascular grafts for hemodialysis access.
abstract: Alternatives to autogenous arteriovenous hemodialysis (HD) access, such as synthetic arteriovenous bypass grafts and central venous catheters, are associated with a higher rate of complications. The evaluated article assessed the repeated cannulation challenges of HD in tissue-engineered blood vessels implanted in a bovine in vivo model (n = 15). Two groups were studied. A short-term group in which the graft was explanted and histologically examined (n = 7) and a second group in which the graft was left in for 6 months or until outflow venous stenosis occurred (n = 8). Two grafts from each group occluded 1-month postoperatively. Of the 11 remaining, cannulation was well tolerated with adequate hemostasis. Histological analysis demonstrated host cell repopulation of the outer surface in the short-term group (n = 5) and stable wall geometry in the long-term group. The authors concluded that their study proves the concept of using a scaffold-based approach to tissue-engineered blood vessels for HD access.
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplant and Vascular Access Department, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK. mhossain@nhs.net
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Adam E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Frampton
authors.forename: Tina T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morsy