Graft to vein fistula with partial thrombosis: a case report

Hemodialysis (HD) remains the cornerstone therapy for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), with arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) generally favored over arteriovenous grafts (AVGs). Nonetheless, AVGs serve as a critical alternative for patients in whom AVF creation is not feasible. AVGs, however, carry risks such as infection, thrombosis, aneurysm formation, steal syndrome, and graft-to-vein fistulas (GVFs). We report the case of a 62-year-old patient with ESRD who developed partial thrombosis secondary to an inadvertent GVF during AVG cannulation. Remarkably, the GVF was preserved as a secondary HD access and remained functional for more than a year without major complications. This case highlights the potential role of GVFs as a viable option in HD access management.