An arteriovenous (AV) graft is a deliberate connection between an artery and a vein. Researchers recently examined the effect of ethnicity on the effectiveness of arteriovenous grafts for dialysis. They claim that compared to other ethnic groups, African Americans have a higher rate of graft failure. The medical director for Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York, Dr. Denise Pate, who did not participate in the study, stated that additional research is required because the results on such grafts are not definitive. Read the article here