PTFE grafts of 6 mm and 8 mm internal diameter are the most commonly used sizes for dialysis access. Hypotension is a common cause of thrombosis in this type of arteriovenous fistula. In the animal model, stasis develops in both sizes equally during hypotension despite the theoretical advantage of lower resistance in the 8 mm graft. This indicates that internal graft diameter is not significant for prevention of stasis in dialysis access grafts at physiological and hypotensive BP levels.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Brescia NJ, Cimino JE, Appel K., Hurwich BJ: Chronic hemodialysis using venipuncture and surgically created arteriovenous fistula. N Engl J Med175:1089, 1966.
2.
Kesler RC: Arterio-venous grafts for vascular access in hemodialysis. Br J Surg66:23, 1979.
3.
Chivitz JL, Yokoyama T., Bower R., Swartz C.: Self-sealing prosthesis for arteriovenous fistula in man. Trans Am Soc Artif Intern Organs18:452, 1972.
Baker LD, Johnson JM, Goldfarb D.: Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) subcutaneous arteriovenous conduit: An improved vascular access for chronic hemodialysis. Trans Am Soc Artif Int Organs22:38, 1976.
6.
Pasternak BM , Paruk S., Kogan S., Levitt S.: A synthetic vascular conduit (Expanded PTFE) for hemodialysis access — A preliminary report. Vasc Surg11:99, 1977.
7.
Butler HG, Baker LD, Johnson JM: Vascular access for chronic hemodialysis: Polytetrafluoroethylene versus bovine heterograft. Am J Surg134:791, 1977.
8.
Lemaitre P., Ackman Cfd, O'Regan S. et al: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts for hemodialysis. 18 months experience. Clin Neph10:27, 1978.
9.
Tellis VA, Kohlberg WI, Bhat DJ, et al: Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft fistula for chronic hemodialysis . Ann Surg289:101, 1979.
10.
Wellington JL: Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene prosthetic grafts for blood access in patients on dialysis. Can J Surg21:420, 1978.
11.
Haimou M.: Clinical experience with the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular prosthesis . Angiology29:1, 1973.
