GRAFT-TO-VEIN FISTULAS ASSOCIATED WITH POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE DIALYSIS GRAFTS - DIAGNOSIS AND CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE

PURPOSE: To describe the diagnosis and morphology of abnormal fistulas between dialysis grafts and adjacent native veins in five patients an d to discuss their clinical significance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five p atients with PTFE loop-type forearm dialysis grafts were found to have graft-to-vein fistulas in the presence of venous outflow stenosis or occlusion, Three patients underwent surgical revision and two patients underwent percutaneous angioplasty of the venous obstruction, Only on e patient required ligation of the abnormal graft-to-vein fistula, The clinical history, dialysis records, surgical reports, and subsequent radiographs of the fistula were reviewed to determine the clinical sig nificance of these fistulas.RESULTS: Two patients presented with parti al graft thrombosis; the proximal portion of the graft remained patent due to persistent flow through the fistulous communication to an adja cent native vein, Two other patients had a graft-to-vein fistula arisi ng from a pseudoaneurysm, which itself was originating from the graft, After either surgical or percutaneous treatment of the venous obstruc tion, all five grafts remained functional during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: These iatrogenic, small-caliber fistulas are not uncommon but only manifest during periods of elevated graft pressure, Once the graft pressure is normalized, these fistulas have minimal hemodynamic effect and need not be specifically treated.