Comparison of the short-term outcomes of Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Graft (E-PTFEG) and Thoratec® Vascular Access Graft (TVAG) in hemodialysis patients

We performed a single center study comparing Thoratec® Vascular Access Graft (TVAG) and Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Graft (Gore-tex® Stretch vascular grafts, E-PTFEG) with respect to the patency. Sixty-one patients (TVAG 38, E-PTFEG 23) were enrolled in this study. Gender distribution, mean age, duration of dialysis, rate of complication by diabetics or cardiovascular disease did not significantly differ between the two groups. At 6 and 12 months, primary patency rates were 75.4% and 59.2%, respectively, in the TVAG group and 73.7% and 57.3%, respectively, in the E-PTFEG group. At 6 and 12 months, secondary patency rates were 94.3% and 75.4%, respectively, in the TVAG group and 87.0% and 66.7%, respectively in the E-PTFEG group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in primary and secondary patency rates. The interval between surgery and first use of the graft was 15.1±3.8 days in TVAG and 19.9±5.0 days in E-PTFEG. TVAG could be punctured earlier than E-PTFEG (p=0.003). We concluded that graft patency of TVAG was similar to that of E-PTFEG. When dialysis patients are immunocompromised, appropriate prophylaxis of infection induced by TVAG is necessary. TVAG also has disadvantages such as frequent kinking when implanted over elbow joints.