Vascular Access Management and Care: Arterio-Venous Grafts (AVG)

An arteriovenous graft (AVG) is a purposeful union of a vein and an artery made possible by inserting graft material in the gap. There are numerous biological and prosthetic graft materials that can be used to create AVG. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) has emerged as the predominant material for such grafts. It is the result of improvements in graft design and surgical procedures to lessen problems and increase patency rates. Anatomy, life expectancy, and other criteria are taken into consideration while deciding whether to use an AVG over a different kind of hemodialysis access. Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are advised to be the first choice in hemodialysis patients according to KDOQI guidelines on vascular access; AVG should only be used in individuals whose vascular anatomy makes fistula insertion impossible. This statement is justified by the fact that fistulas require significantly fewer procedures than grafts do, in order to maintain long-term patency for dialysis. Elderly individuals may benefit from the use of AVG, due to their high main autogenous AVF failure rate.