Immediate, safe hemodialysis into arteriovenous fistulas created with a new tunneler. An 11 year experience.

It seems apparent that application of the tunneler has greatly facilitated the immediate use of graft arteriovenous fistulas. Most new patients admitted with end-stage renal disease have arteriovenous fistulas created, receive hemodialysis appropriately, and are discharged from the hospital within 2 to 4 days. In my experience, there was a significant decrease in the need for externally placed catheters or shunts. These 301 consecutive cases with relatively few early complications attest to the safety of immediate hemodialysis into graft arteriovenous fistulas created with this tunneler.