How is the AV graft created?
Creating an AV graft is a surgical procedure, which requires a small incision at the proposed site. Surgeons sew the graft to an artery and tunnel it, just under the skin, creating a loop back to the starting incision where it is then sewn to a vein. The long loop gives the dialysis nurses space to access the graft. AV grafts can be safely used in about two weeks, as no maturation of the vessels is necessary. Grafts have a lifespan of approximately 2 to 3 years but can often last longer. However, AV grafts can be more troublesome than AV fistulas. Blood is more likely to clot in grafts because they are made of prosthetic (foreign) material. When this happens, interventional procedures can remove the clot and restore blood flow for dialysis. Complications related to AV grafts are similar to those with AV fistulas: bleeding, thrombosis (clotting), steal and because of the prosthetic nature of the graft, infection. Infected grafts must be removed immediately and a new access site develope
