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A brief history of vascular access for hemodialysis: an unfinished story
1Department of Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903, USA.
Progress in the development of permanent vascular access for hemodialysis has been much slower than progress in other areas of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patient care. This article provides a brief historical overview of the major means used for vascular access since the start of chronic hemodialysis. These access modalities include external shunts, arteriovenous fistulae, prosthetic arteriovenous grafts, needle-less access devices, and tunneled central venous catheters. Despite the evolution of access methodology, vascular access complications remain a major impediment to the full rehabilitation of the chronic hemodialysis patient.
Progress in the development of permanent vascular access for hemodialysis has been much slower than progress in other areas of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patient care. This article provides a brief historical overview of the major means used for vascular access since the start of chronic hemodialysis. These access modalities include external shunts, arteriovenous fistulae, prosthetic arteriovenous grafts, needle-less access devices, and tunneled central venous catheters. Despite the evolution of access methodology, vascular access complications remain a major impediment to the full rehabilitation of the chronic hemodialysis patient.