title: Timing of cannulation of arteriovenous grafts: are we too cautious?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Timing of first cannulation of an arteriovenous graft has been the subject of great debate for clinicians worldwide. In this paper, we reviewed the current literature on the timing of first cannulation of arteriovenous grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches of PubMed, Medline and the Cochrane Library were performed using specific search terms to identify articles, dealing primarily with the timing of dialysis graft cannulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following strict inclusion/exclusion criteria by two reviewers, eleven studies were included and divided into subgroups for ePTFE and new generation grafts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current literature does not seem to support the current guidelines as there is no evidence to suggest that a delay in cannulation of grafts will improve graft survival and patency.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Fellow in Vascular Access and Renal Transplant Surgery, Department of Renal Surgery , University Hospital Birmingham , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Al Shakarchi
authors.affiliation: Consultant Surgeon in Renal Surgery, Department of Renal Surgery , University Hospital Birmingham , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inston
keywords: arteriovenous; cannulation; graft; timing