Upper arm polytetrafluoroethylene grafts for dialysis access. Analysis of two different graft sizes: 6 mm and 6-8 mm.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze 2 sizes of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) upper arm grafts for dialysis: 8 millimeters, tapered to 6 mm at the arterial side, and 6 millimeters. All upper arm PTFE grafts (Gore-Tex(R)) were performed between January 1981 and April 1997. Patient characteristics, complication rate, and patency rates were compared for both kind of grafts.