Primary access surgery for long-term haemodialysis.

This paper assessed the efficacy of arterio-venous fistulae, vein grafts, and synthetic grafts for long-term haemodialysis. Over a selected 10 year period, 486 primary access sites were established and 182 revisions were necessary. Access procedures were assessed for primary survival, the success or otherwise of revision surgery, and long-term efficacy for haemodialysis. Significant differences were shown for long-term survival of fistulae over vein grafts and synthetic grafts. Successful revision surgery favoured fistulae over synthetic grafts. Arterio-venous fistulae offered the best prospect for effective long-term dialysis. Revision surgery with continued dialysis using the primary-access site was largely unsuccessful, secondary access reconstruction being required in 78.2% of all failures.