Abstract
Recently, arteriovenous fistula is more frequently used than Quinton-Scribner shunt in many dialysis centers in Japan. However, Quinton-Scribner shunt is preferable in patients with limited care dialysis and/or home dialysis.
We investigated the external artriovenous shunt survival in patients hemodialysed more than three years. The external artriovenous shunt is Quinton-Scribner type shunt and was made in a forearm or a lower leg.
Frequency of a shunt revision from one extremity to another was 0.36 times a year. Five of seven patients hemodialysed more than six years have had good patent functions in their shunts using the same extremity. Among shunt complications (recannulation, clotting, infection and bleeding), clotting problems were most frequently seen, 1.5 times at the venous side and 0.6 times at the arterial side, in a year.
In conclusion, we can expect a comparable good survival to arteriovenous fistula in Quinton-Scribner shunt under a daily careful control.
