Polyurethane compared with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular access graft: patency rate and complications in hemodialysis patients

Twenty percent of dialysis patients eventually require arterial grafts as the only method of vascular access for hemodialysis. Polyurethane and ploy tetra fluoro ethylene grafts have been used for years for vascular access in hemodialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and complications of these two types of grafts. In this randomized clinical trial, 60 patients were divided in to two groups. Polyurethane and PTFE grafts were implanted in upper and lower extremities in equal proportions. Primary and secondary patency rates, infection and vascular events of PTFE and Polyurethane grafts were compared using chi square test or Fisher's exact test. Primary and secondary patency rates, infection rate and vascular events between these two types of grafts showed no significant difference (P>0.2). However, infection rates in grafts of the lower limb were significantly higher (P<0.05). Due to the lack of significant difference in terms of efficacy and complications between PTFE and Polyurethane grafts, each of these two types of graft may be used in hemodialysis patients after considering issues of price and availability.