Results and complications of arteriovenous access dialysis grafts in the lower extremity: a five year review.

Virtually no objective data exist regarding the natural history of arteriovenous (AV) dialysis access grafts placed in the lower extremity for routine hemodialysis. From March 1988 until October 1993, 45 consecutive lower extremity AV dialysis access grafts were placed in 39 patients (16 males; 23 females; mean age 58 years) at a large teaching community hospital. All 39 patients had long-standing end stage renal disease and had required chronic hemodialysis from 7 to 237 months mean, 72 months) prior to leg graft placement. Polytetrafluorethylene (n=39) or bovine (n=6) loop lower extremity dialysis grafts were placed after multiple upper extremity dialysis graft failures (mean, 2.7 previous grafts with 9.6 thrombectomies and/or access revisions per patient). There were no operative deaths; however, in follow-up (1-132 months; mean 20 months; median 18 months), 33 percent of the patients had died from systemic complications of their renal disease, and only 20 (44%) leg grafts are currently patent [correction of patient] . Graft complications, excluding graft thromboses, occurred in 20 grafts including graft infection (n=8; 18%), severe ipsilateral leg ischemia (n=7; 16%), graft aneurysmal degeneration requiring revision (n=3; 7%), fistula-induced congestive heart failure (n=2; 4%), and major lower extremity amputation (n=3; 7%). Primary patency by life-table analysis was 47 percent at 24 months. Fifteen (33%) grafts thrombosed at least once, and all but one were salvaged with thrombectomy. The need for lower extremity AV dialysis access appears to be a significant marker for late mortality in this group of chronically ill patients. They are associated with multiple complications and should probably be placed only if significant patient morbidity can be accepted and justified.