Preserving function and long-term patency of dialysis access

Of the 283,932 patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving repla cement therapy in the US in 1996, 62% were being treated with haemodialysis .(1) Improved survival of haemodialysis patients coupled with the inability to provide enough renal transplants for the growing ESRD population has re sulted in an increase in the average length of time patients spend on dialy sis. Vascular accesses are, therefore, required to function for longer peri ods of time. Maintenance of a reliable access to the circulation has been d escribed as the Achilles' heel of modem haemodialysis.(2) Preserving access function and long-term patency are essential for efficient dialysis delive ry.