The comparison of the complications of axillobrachial and femorofemoral arteriovenous shunt prostheses in hemodialysis, a 3 year study in Alzahra general hospital.
BACKGROUND
This study was performed to compare the outcome and complications of axillobrachial and femorofemoral graft as upper and lower limb arteriovenous shunt prostheses.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort study, we observed and followed-up all cases with a new insertion of ePTFE between February 2006 and February 2009. Assessment of patency and the complication rates of their prostheses were the essential parts of this observation.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort study, we observed and followed-up all cases with a new insertion of ePTFE between February 2006 and February 2009. Assessment of patency and the complication rates of their prostheses were the essential parts of this observation.


RESULTS
A total of 69 grafts were performed. Forty-nine of them were successfully followed-up (18 femorofemoral and 31 axillobrachial grafts). Immediate primary patency was 100%. For axillobrachial type, primary patency at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively, was 86%, 60%, and 47%. Secondary patency at 1, 3, and 6 months was 86%, 75%, and 50%, respectively. For femorofemoral type, primary patency at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively, was 88%, 40%, and 34%. Secondary patency at 1, 3, and 6 months was 94%, 47%, and 41%, respectively. (P > 0.05) Complications included a puncture-site hematoma, thrombosis, infection, venous hypertension, need of an excision and pseudoaneurysm formation. Pseudoaneurysm rate difference between the two groups was interestingly significant, while others were relatively similar; however, the rates were different.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant difference of aneurysm rate among our two groups, besides the insignificant difference of other complications and also the similar primary and secondary patency rates, manifest a brilliant guidance chart for the surgeons in order to choose the most compatible site for inserting ePTFE grafts (Gore-tex) as arteriovenous shunt prostheses for HD accessing.
Department of Vascular Surgery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Hafez
H
Ghaheri
Mohamad Reza
MR
Lavasanijou
Ali Akbar
AA
Beigi
Afrooz
A
Eshaghian
Mojtaba
M
Akbari
Axillobrachial; Gore-tex; end-stage renal disease; femorofemoral; polytetrafluoroethylene