[Use of the femoral artery for chronic hemodialytic treatment]. / Utilizzazione dell'arteria femorale per il trattamento emodialitico cronico

ABSTRACT

In 4 patients subjected to periodical haemodialytic treatment a new route of access to the vessels was used; the common femoral artery and the large saphena to the outlet into the femoral vein. All four patients presented serious problems with regard to application of a new shunt in view of the previous reiterated use of the vessels commonly utilized. At the maximum distance of 46 months from implantation, only one of the four by-passes is still in use; 2 were removed for obstruction and the fourth, still operating at the time, was removed for a renal transplant performed on the patient. In view of the frequency of troubles and the use-months of the femoral by-pass compared with the traditional ones, the femoral route of access may be considered favourably when the traditional shunt implantation or fistula creation procedures are precluded.