title: Haemodialysis plastic cannulae - a possible alternative to traditional metal needles?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haemodialysis plastic cannulae for arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) have been used for many years in Japan and recently this technique was introduced in Australia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Find answers to the following questions:What are the pros and cons of plastic cannulae versus traditional metal needles for AVF and arteriovenous graft (AVG)? Is the use of plastic cannulae instead of traditional metal needles an option for European dialysis units as well? If it is an option, for which patients should plastic cannulae be used?
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search via PubMed and Google.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the characteristics of plastic cannulae, they seem to be well suited for restless patients, patients with unpredictable behaviour, children, and patients who are allergic to metal.However, the evidence base provided by studies on the use of cannulae is currently weak. More controlled randomised studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Fresenius Medical Care - Care Value Management, Bad Homburg - Germany.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Parisotto
authors.affiliation: Fresenius Medical Care - Care Value Management, Bad Homburg - Germany.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pelliccia
authors.affiliation: Medical Writer, Friedberg - Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bedenbender-Stoll
authors.affiliation: Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan - Italy.|Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences "L. Sacco", University of Milan, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallieni
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D000072601:Cannula; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals; D009339:Needles; D010969:Plastics; D011677:Punctures; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D010969:Plastics