Axillo-axillary Loop Grafts (AALG) for Chronic Hemodialysis Access Using Polyurethane Graft (Thoratec)

Abstract

Between September 2012 and July 2016, axillo-axillary loop grafts (AALG) using polyurethane vascular prostheses were implanted in 8 patients (6 with an arteriovenous graft; AVG and 2 with an arterio-arterial graft; AAG). The time from dialysis initiation to AALG implantation was 15.0±11.3 years. The primary and secondary patency rate was 66.7% and 88.3% at 1 year, 50% and 66.7% at 3 years. When the use of blood vessels of both upper and lower extremities for vascular access can not challenging, arterial superficialization or tunneled cuffed permanent catheter is usually selected. However, vascular access construction using a blood vessel prosthesis in the precordia also appears to be a useful option.