A NEW TECHNIQUE OF PROSTHETIC ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA CONSTRUCTION THATELIMINATES THE NEED FOR TEMPORARY ACCESS

The use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for hemodialysis requires a maturation period to allow for tissue ingrowth around the graft. If he modialysis is necessary during this waiting period, then temporary acc ess is used. Unfortunately, temporary access is difficult, if not impo ssible, to establish in many patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. We describe a technique for the construction of a prosthetic arteriov enous fistula that eliminates the waiting period and the need for temp orary access in selected patients who require PTFE fistulas for hemodi alysis.