The Results of Arteriovenous Graft Placement in Hemodialysis Patients: Single Center Experience

Abstract

Objective: Arteriovenous grafts (AVG) are the options of vascular access to be used in hemodialysis patients who do not have an arteriovenous fistula option in the upper extremity. In this study, we evaluated the graft survival and complication results of 39 patients who underwent AVG in our center. Methods: Between 2010 and 2013, a total of 55 patients underwent AVG. As the records of 16 patients could not be reached, 39 patients were included in the study. The cases were retrospectively evaluated in terms of demographic data, AVG sites, survival with or without revision, factors affecting graft survival, and reasons for graft termination. Results: The mean duration of graft use without revision was 9.9 +/- 8.5 months and the mean total graft use was 13.6 +/- 11.6 months.The total graft survival rates were 82.1%, 74.1%, and 35.3% at the end of the 2nd, 12th, and 24th months, respectively. The demographic data of the patients and the use of catheter or vascular access in the same side of the graft did not have a significant effect on graft survival or early complications. There was no significant difference in terms of survival time between the graft locations. The most common cause of AVG termination was thrombosis (43.6%). Conclusion: Although the rate of AVG which developed early functional loss was high in our study, first and second year survival rates in working grafts were similar with the literature. In conclusion, AVG is one of the important vascular access options with similar survival results with fistula in hemodialysispatients. Early graft loss can be reduced with preoperative venography.