The first South Korean experience with the hemodialysis reliable outflow graft for vascular access in hemodialysis.

Abstract

The Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow (HeRO) graft (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.), first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008, provides an alternative vascular access option for patients with end-stage kidney disease who have exhausted upper extremity arteriovenous (AV) access. The first HeRO graft procedure was performed in South Korea in December 2023. Herein, we describe HeRO graft application in 2 complex vascular access scenarios: (1) establishing a new access pathway for a catheter-dependent patient with bilateral central venous occlusions and (2) bypassing recurrent central venous stenotic lesions to restore the function of a mature AV fistula. Given the potential risks, including thrombosis or infection, careful preoperative planning and meticulous patient selection are essential for optimizing HeRO graft outcomes. Further research is necessary to evaluate the long-term efficacy and complication profile of this technique.