Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) subcutaneous arteriovenous conduit: an improved vascular access for chronic hemodialysis.

The early results with 84 PTFE grafts used as subcutaneous A-V conduits for vascular access in 72 patients requiring chronic hemodialysis have been quite promising. Initial follow-up has revealed that these grafts functioned at least as well as the bovine heterograft, and the complications seen within the 2 groups being somewhat similar. Should the complications and rate of complications with PTFE be no greater than those seen with the bovine heterograft, then its availability, ease of handling and significant decrease in cost would make the PTFE graft a significant improvement as a means of creating vascular access for chronic hemodialysis.