USE OF VASCULAR CLOSURE STAPLES IN VASCULAR ACCESS FOR DIALYSIS, KIDNEY AND PANCREAS TRANSPLANTATION

We report our experience with the use of the vascular closure staples (VCS) in vascular access for dialysis, as well as in kidney and pancre as transplantation. We used the VCS for 50 endogenous arterio-venous f istulas (AVFs). There were no complications. The use of the VCS contri buted in creating an excellent anastomosis and minimising operative ti me. All AVFs are in use for dialysis (follow up two months to one year ). The excellent results from our experience with the use of VCS for v ascular access encouraged us to use them in kidney and pancreas transp lantation. We performed six cadaveric kidney transplants (the first op eration was the first application of the VCS in kidney transplantation in Europe) and two cadaveric pancreas-kidney transplants (the first o peration being the first application of the VCS in pancreas transplant ation in the world). There were no complications. The use of VCS creat ed an excellent anastomosis and minimised warm ischaemia time. All kid ney transplant recipients have normal creatinines (follow up 1-5 month s) and the recipients of pancreatic transplants are insulin independen t (follow up 1-3 months).