Arterio-Venous Shunts Placed for Hemodialysis Prior to Kidney Transplantation

Abstract

Seventeen patients with terminal uremia were treated with hemodialysis via an arterio-venous shunt as modified by Quinton et al. and in one case via a subcutaneous arterio-venous fistula according to Brescia et al. The shunts were also used for sampling and infusions. In 9 patients the shunt functioned without failure up to the time of kidney transplantation (18–123 days), while 1–3 cannula replacements were necessary in the other 8 patients. The cannulas in the latter patients lasted for an average of 60 and 79 days respectively in arteries and veins. Infection had the most adverse effect on cannula survival.