On this day in 1960, for the first time, Dr. Belding Scribner (Scrib) inserted a shunt into a man's arm to connect an artery to a dialysis machine. The operation was successful and enabled the man, Clyde Shields, to survive on dialysis for over a decade. This shunt (shown in the images below) was the last piece of technology needed to provide long-term dialysis for patients with failing kidneys. The impact of this successful procedure was immediate -- kidney failure was no longer a death sentence.
Left: A diagram naming parts of the original 1960 shunt. Middle: The shunt inserted into Clyde Shields's arm in 1960. Right: Dr. Belding Scribner.
How it works: The shunt consists of two extension tubes, a stabilizer, and a "U tube" (which takes on a U-shape closer to the patient's elbow). When dialysis is needed, the "U tube" is removed and the dialysis machine connected in its place. (The original 1966 article below explains how this shunt works in more detail.)
Today: Now there are more options for dialysis. Patients may undergo surgery to have a fistula or graft in their arm, or a catheter in their neck, all of which improve access to the bloodstream for dialysis. At-home dialysis is also possible. The patient education webpages listed below offer general overviews of dialysis, including its types, steps, effects, risks, and outlooks.
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