title: Single-center results of a series of prosthetic axillary-axillary arteriovenous access grafts for hemodialysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prosthetic infraclavicular axillary-axillary arteriovenous access grafts are one of a number of complex dialysis access options in patients when all of the usual upper limb possibilities have been exhausted. We present a follow-up of 35 patients who received this access graft during a 9-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were identified from our own operation records. Follow-up data were gathered from their locally held electronic medical records. Primary and secondary patency were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier estimate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 15 of the 35 patients in our cohort underwent one or more revision operations. Primary patency was estimated at 88% at 6 months, and the secondary patency rate estimate was 54% at 48 months. Twelve patients died during the study period; the grafts in 17 of the 23 remaining patients were in use at the conclusion of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this is a small cohort, our results suggest that prosthetic axillary-axillary arteriovenous access should be at least considered as a viable long-term option for hemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Institute, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gale-Grant
authors.affiliation: Vascular Institute, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: eric.chemla@stgeorges.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Chemla
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001366:Axillary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001367:Axillary Vein / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D014654:Vascular Patency