Initial approach to blood access for the chronic hemodialysis patient--the bovine heterograft.

Experience with the modified bovine heterograft arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis in 79 grafts in 73 patients over an 18 mo period is analyzed. An immediate (30 day) patency rate of 97.5%, and a 12 mo cumulative patency rate of 73.9% was observed. Early and late complication rates were acceptably low, despite early usage in 80% of cases. It is concluded that the bovine fistula provides an acceptable blood access route for the initial approach to the patient in urgent need of hemodialysis.