Immediate postimplant hemodialysis through a new "self-sealing" heparin-bonded polycarbonate/urethane graft

Immediate accessibility of a newly implanted dialysis graft is desirable to avoid temporary catheters. The most commonly used dialysis graft, expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE), does not allow early access. This report presents the first clinical data regarding the immediate puncturability of a newly introduced "self-sealing" polycarbonate urethane graft (PUG).

Patients implanted with a PUG due to the need for immediate vascular access through their new grafts were followed prospectively for early and late complications.

Five patients who were implanted with a PUG were dialyzed through their grafts within hours after surgery. Dialysis was continued three times per week in each patient, without a puncture-related problem.

The availability of a self-sealing graft allowing immediate vascular access on the same day of the implant was achieved with the PUG system. Decreasing the need for temporary catheters may initiate some of the complications associated with hemodialysis.