[Omniflow: a new vascular prosthesis for hemodialysis access]

Between January and November 1988 20 a.-v. shunts for haemodialysis access were performed at the University Hospital of Zurich with the Omniflow, a prosthesis composed of sheep collagen and polyester mesh. The main reason to implant this vascular prosthesis was the failure of Cimino-shunts. In 9 cases a straight and in 11 cases a performed "u" shape graft was used. During the follow-up period of 3-11 months the following 6 complications were observed: 5 graft thrombosis (in 2 cases due to hypotonia, in other 2 cases due to wrong graft selection and in 1 case due to narrowed venous anastomosis), and one graft dysfunction due to a stenosis in the patients vein. In comparison to the vascular prostheses used earlier, the Omniflow graft is characterized by a high patency rate and an easy puncturing.