One-year experience with a new expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft for hemodialysis

Hemodialysis access achieved through a prosthetic vascular graft has become more popular, especially in diabetic and older patients and those who have had several unsuccessful surgical accesses. From January to December 1996, we implanted a newly available expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft (DIASTAT Vascular Access Graft) that allows early cannulation in 18 patients (11 men and 7 women; mean age +/- SD, 63.7 +/- 11 years). Thirteen of these patients had at least one failed vascular access. All grafts were cannulated for dialysis within 7 days of implantation, with flow rates > or = 300 ml/min. The time to hemostasis after the first cannulation ranged from 2 to 4 min. The primary patency rate at one year was 56%. Four grafts developed thrombosis requiring surgical intervention; three were salvaged and one was removed. The one-year assisted or cumulative patency rate was 72%. One patient had persistent bleeding requiring graft revision immediately after surgery. The bleeding stopped and its origin was not determined. There were no graft infections or hematomas. Because of the early cannulation possible with the DIASTAT graft, as well as the lesser time to hemostasis than that generally achieved with standard ePTFE grafts, this prosthesis is a good alternative to autogenous access construction.