Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts for haemodialysis in chronic renal failure: assessment of durability and function at three years.

The utilization of 162 PTFE grafts for angio access in 131 patients over a three year period is reported. One hundred and three new PTFE arterio-venous fistulae were constructed in addition to 59 patch and tube incorporations into pre-existing graft fistulae. At three years, the cumulative patency of newly constructed grafts was 85%. Seventy four per cent of the grafts have had no thrombosis and are functioning up to 38 months following insertion. An aggressive approach was adopted towards the 15% of grafts that had at least one episode of thrombosis prior to flow being successfully restored. Graft occlusion which occurred up to 18 months following insertion, represented 11% of the group in this series. PTFE has provided an important advance in angio access for chronic renal failure with high patency and excellent durability after three years.