Abstract: Objectives   To compare the clinical application of Acuseal artificial blood vessel and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene artificial vessel (ePTFE) as the arteriovenous graft (AVG) for hemodialysis access so as to provide reference for clinical use.   Methods   A retrospective study was performed on 61 patients undergoing AVG surgery in the Department of Nephrology, Jinan Central Hospital from December 2019 to December 2020. They were divided into observation group (Acuseal group) and control group (ePTFE group) according to the type of artificial blood vessel used. The first puncture time of internal fistula, the use of central venous catheter (CVC), patency rate and complications after the operation for one year were compared between the two groups.  Results  The surgery time was different between observation group and control group (U=279.000, P=0.024). The first puncture time were 4 (3, 6) days and 31 (30, 39) days after the surgery in observation group and control group respectively. CVC indwelling period was different (U=167.000, P＜0.001), but the rate of CVC used was similar (χ2=0.000, P=1.000) between the two groups. The primary patency rate after 6 months was 54.5% in observation group and was 66.7% in control group (χ2=0.934, P=0.334), and the rate after 12 months was 22.7% in observation group and was 38.5% in control group (χ2=1.984, P=0.159), without statistical significances between the two groups. The cumulative patency rate after 6 months was 90.9% in observation group and was 100% in control group (χ2=3.629, P=0.057), and the rate after 12 months was 81.8% in observation group and was 94.9% in control group (χ2=2.758, P=0.097), also without statistical significances between the two groups. Postoperative complications were similar between the two groups. The artificial vessel in observation group was completely removed if it was infected.  Conclusion  Acuseal artificial blood vessel allows early puncture and has similar patency rate. However, due to the difficulties in surgery, the removal of the whole dialysis pathway after infection leading to the use of CVC, the AVG using Acuseal artificial blood vessel should be carefully weighed in clinical practice.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Acuseal artificial blood vessel, Flow rate