Salvage of exposed arteriovenous hemodialysis fistulas

Arteriovenous fistulas constructed with an interposed segment of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have been used successfully for long-term hemodialysis, but ultimately these fistulas may fail because of graft thrombosis, infection, or pseudoaneurysm. A PTFE graft may become exposed from skin necrosis at an area of repeated puncture for hemodialysis or from wound breakdown at a site of thrombectomy. Removal of an exposed PTFE graft has heretofore been considered inevitable, especially if a suture line is involved, because of the risk of hemorrhage and infection. We describe coverage of an exposed graft by a simple full-thickness skin flap that is locally rotated and report the successful salvage of five fistulas by this technique. Thus the concept that an exposed graft is infected and must be removed may not always be correct.