ARTERIOVENOUS SHUNT OPERATIONS WITH POLYCARBONATE URETHANE DIALYSE GRAFTS AND EARLY RESULTS

Objectlve: This clinical report focuses on the aspects of the advantages and disadvantages of using a new synthetic graft named polycarbonate urethane (Choronoflex, CardioTech Ltd., Chester, UK) which allows pulsatil flow, which repairs itself after applying dialyse and also which has elasticity.

Material and Method: Between October 1999 and November 2000, 33 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) were underwent to the arteriovenous shunt operations with polycarbonate urethane dialyse grafts in the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic of Ondokuz Mayıs University Hospital. There were 20 man (60.6 %), and women (39.4 %) with a mean age of 51 years. Colour Doppler duplex ultrasound examination was performed at ali of the patients. in addition to this, some patients were underwent to the angiography. Graft locations were brachial artery-antecubital vein loop at 15 patients, brachial artery-axillary vein longitudinal at 11 patients and axillary artery-axillary vein loop at 7 patients. Grafts were began to use after about 7 days from the operations. 1 month later from the implantation, grafts were considered firstly.

Results: Mean following period is 12 months (4-20 months). Primary patency rate is 66.6% and secondary patency rate is 84%.

Conclusion:sThis results indicate that polycarbonate urethane dialyse grafts may be a good alternative with high patency rates.