Different endovascular modalities of treatment for isolated atherosclerotic popliteal artery lesions (EMO-POP) registry

BackgroundThe mid-term results after treatment of isolated popliteal lesions have been limited. The aim of the present study was to report the mid-term outcomes after endovascular treatment of isolated atherosclerotic popliteal artery lesions.MethodsA multicenter (15 hospitals in five countries) retrospective cohort study was performed. Between June 2016 and June 2021, 651 consecutive patients who had been treated for isolated popliteal lesions using endovascular methods exclusively were included in the present study. Six techniques were identified, including plain balloon angioplasty (PTA; n = 286; 43.9%), drug-coated balloon angioplasty (n = 98; 15.1%), stenting with low-chronic outward force (COF) stents (n = 84; 12.9%), stenting with high-COF stents (n = 76; 11.7%), atherectomy alone (n = 17; 2.6%), and directional atherectomy with drug-coated balloons (n = 90; 13.8%). The primary outcomes measures were primary and secondary patency and freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization (F-CDTLR).ResultsThe mean patient age was 74.5 years. Most of the patients (n = 409; 62.9%) had had chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Popliteal occlusion was found in 400 cases (61.4%). High-grade calcification was present in 36.7% of cases. Immediate technical success was 94.8%. The median follow-up was 26 months (range, 6-42 months). The actuarial rate for all patients at 26 months (per outcome measure) was as follows: primary patency, 73.9%; secondary patency, 88%; and F-CDTLR, 76.5%. When comparing PTA vs all other treatments in an adjusted regression analysis, the F-CDTLR was 75.2% for PTA vs 76.5% for all other treatment (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-1.48; P = .46, adjusted regression). The difference in secondary patency also was not statistically significant (85.7% for PTA vs 88%; P = .20). Adjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the estimated primary patency was inferior for PTA in pairwise comparisons vs other treatments (P < .001 vs atherectomy; P = .002 vs directional atherectomy with drug-coated balloons; and P = .002 vs low-COF stenting).ConclusionsThe results from our study have shown that endovascular treatment of isolated popliteal lesions is safe and associated with acceptable patency and F-CDTLR in the mid-term.     

Never Too Old For an Autogenous Dialysis Fistula? Results of Endovascular Interventions in Nonagenarians

The number of elderly patients in hemodialysis has increased in recent years and nowadays there are significant numbers of nonagenarians. However, there is currently no information in the literature about arteriovenous fistula (AVF) outcomes in patients aged over 90 years after endovascular treatment for stenosis or thrombosis. This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data included 38 consecutive patients aged over 90 years who were referred for endovascular evaluation and treatment of AVF nonmaturation (n = 11), dysfunction (n = 25), or thrombosis (n = 2) between 2005 and 2013. Median age was 93.9 years, and 24% were diabetic and 47% hypertensive patients. Immature and dysfunctional AVFs were treated by angioplasty, thrombosed fistulas by thromboaspiration. Fistula patency rates were calculated according to the Life‐Table method. The immediate overall clinical success rate was 97.4%. Complications included four transient dilation‐induced ruptures. Stents were placed for rupture control (n = 3) and major elastic recoil (n = 3), and to rectify a basilic vein pseudoaneurysm developed after dilation. Mean follow‐up was 62.6 months. Primary patency rates were 60% and 43% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Secondary patency rates were 95% and 92% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Patency rates were not significantly different between immature and dysfunctional AVFs. Endovascular treatment of AVF complications appears to be a valuable approach in nonagenarian patients in view of the low invasiveness, low complication rate, and relatively good long‐term patency rates.     

A systematic review,meta-analysis,and meta-regression of the efficacy and safety of endovascular arteriovenous fistula creation

ObjectiveThe percutaneous endovascular approach to arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation is a minimally invasive alternative to surgical AVF creation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of endovascular AVF creation in patients with end-stage renal disease.MethodsThis study conformed to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. An electronic search was performed on major databases to identify relevant articles. Meta-analysis of proportions and meta-regression were conducted.ResultsSeven studies totaling 300 patients were included, of which four evaluated the everlinQ (TVA Medical, Austin, Tex) and three employed the Ellipsys (Avenu Medical, San Juan Capistrano, Calif) systems. The overall technical success rate was 97.50% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.98-99.31%; I² = 0.00%; P = .487). The 90-day maturation rate was 89.27% (95% CI, 84.00-93.66%; I² = 21.29%; P = .283), and the 6-month patency and 12-month patency were 91.99% (95% CI, 87.98-95.35%; I² = 0.00%; P = .780) and 85.71% (95% CI, 79.90-90.71%; I² = 0.00%; P = NS), respectively. The overall procedure-related complication rate was 5.46% (95% CI, 0.310-14.42%; I² = 81.21%; P = .000). Meta-regression was conducted on the pooled rates of technical success and complication, showing that age, diabetes, white race, hypertension, on dialysis, and body mass index were not significant sources of heterogeneity.ConclusionsCurrent endovascular AVF systems appear to be effective and safe. However, given the lack of head-to-head comparative analyses with surgical AVF creation, superiority cannot be established.     

Plasma ADMA Predicts Restenosis of Arteriovenous Fistula

Plasma levels of asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide production, correlate with endothelial dysfunction and the development of cardiovascular events in patients with uremia. It is not known whether endothelial dysfunction contributes to the dysfunction of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in hemodialysis patients. Here, we studied the predictive value of baseline plasma ADMA for symptomatic restenosis of an AVF after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in dialysis patients. We obtained baseline plasma ADMA levels before percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in 100 consecutive patients with dysfunctional AVFs. Patients were followed up clinically for up to 6 mo after angioplasty for recurrent dysfunction. During the 6 mo after angioplasty, 46 patients experienced recurrent dysfunction of their AVF; of these, follow-up fistulography showed restenosis at the same location in 41, new stenosis at different locations in two, and no significant stenosis in three patients. Up to 60% of the patients with high levels of ADMA (>0.910 μM) had target lesion restenosis compared with 25% of those with low levels (<0.910 μM; P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, plasma ADMA independently nearly tripled the risk for recurrent symptomatic stenosis of an AVF after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (hazard ratio 2.65; 95% confidence interval 1.33 to 5.28). These results suggest a role for ADMA in the progression of symptomatic restenoses of AVFs after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and call for preventive strategies that target ADMA and/or endothelial dysfunction to decrease the risk for AVF restenosis.According to recommendations in the National Kidney Foundation Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF-DOQI) guidelines, creation of native arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) is preferable to arteriovenous grafts because of their lower morbidity and higher long-term patency.¹ Nonetheless, AVFs are also subject eventually to dysfunction and failure, which is usually caused by stenosis in the venous segment of the fistula. Although percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is effective in treating these stenotic lesions, its benefit is attenuated by a high restenotic rate within 6 mo.¹ Several medical, mechanical, and genetic factors have been identified as being associated with functional or anatomic patency of AVFs^2–5; however, the major cause of individual variation in the development of symptomatic restenosis in dysfunctional fistulas remains unknown.Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and has been implicated as an important contributor to endothelial dysfunction.^6,7 ADMA is not excreted in patients with ESRD, and its concentration in plasma is two to six times higher than in normal control subjects.⁸ In patients with ESRD, ADMA is correlated with the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events, which suggests that accumulation of ADMA might be an important cardiovascular risk factor⁹; however, the role of ADMA in the restenosis process after PTA of AVFs is not known. We hypothesized that plasma ADMA levels could be related to future development of symptomatic restenosis after PTA for dysfunctional AVFs. This study was then conducted to investigate prospectively the predictive value of baseline plasma ADMA levels for symptomatic angiographically documented restenosis after PTA in a cohort of patients with dysfunctional AVFs.     

A Meta‐analysis of Stent Placement vs. Angioplasty for Dialysis Vascular Access Stenosis

Dysfunction of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) and arteriovenous grafts (AVG) contribute significantly to morbidity and hospitalization in the dialysis population. Despite advances in endovascular techniques, the incidence of vascular access stenosis remains problematic. Currently, the role of endovascular stent placement in the treatment of vascular access stenosis is poorly defined. This meta‐analysis compares the primary patency rates of stenotic vascular access treated with stent placement vs. angioplasty. We searched Medline for English language publications from 1980 through December 2013, along with national conference proceedings and reference lists of all included publications. Inclusion criteria were a measure of primary patency, secondary patency, or access dysfunction. Studies were excluded if they were not in English or if they included pediatric patients. Ten studies with a total of 860 subjects met the inclusion criteria, including six experimental studies and four observational studies. There was significantly higher overall primary patency in those receiving stent placement than in those treated with angioplasty (pooled relative risk [RR] = 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–0.96). The estimate did not differ by study design. The effect of treatment differed significantly (p = 0.001) by the type of stents used, however. In studies including nitinol stents (six studies, 678 patients), 6‐month patency was significantly better for stent placement than angioplasty (pooled RR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54–0.84), whereas there was no significant differences between stent placement and angioplasty in those studies using bare metal stents exclusively (four studies, 182 patients; pooled RR = 1.09; 95% CI: 0.91–1.32). There was significant heterogeneity between studies (I² = 70.6%; p < 0.0001). Our results suggest that stent placement may confer an advantage over balloon angioplasty in primary patency of dialysis access stenoses.     

Percutaneous Thrombectomy of AVF: Immediate Success and Long‐term Patency Rates

The purpose of this study was to report the results obtained in a cohort of 520 cases of thrombosed arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) treated by percutaneous intervention over a period of 8 years. The methods used varied according to the individual characteristics of the case. A clinical success rate of 91.1% was obtained with no significant difference being noted among radial‐cephalic, brachial‐cephalic, and brachial‐basilic AVFs. The mean primary patency for this group was 227.3 ± 14.6 days, and the mean assisted primary patency was 677.2 ± 44.6 days. The lower arm AVFs had both a primary patency and an assisted primary patency that were significantly better than the upper arm cases (p = 0.006 and 0.002, respectively). The primary patency for radial‐cephalic AVFs was significantly better than that for brachial‐cephalic AVFs (p = 0.021), but not for brachial‐basilic cases (p = 0.122). Assisted primary patency for radial‐cephalic cases was significantly superior to the values for either patients with a brachial cephalic (p = 0.046) or a brachial‐basilic (p = 0.004). Complications occurred in seven cases (1.3%), all of which were venous ruptures. Blood flow was affected in four cases. Only one of these was salvaged with angioplasty balloon tamponade. In the remaining three cases, the AVF was lost.     

Contemporary outcomes of infrapopliteal atherectomy with angioplasty versus balloon angioplasty alone for critical limb ischemia

ObjectiveLimited data exist comparing atherectomy (At) with balloon angioplasty for infrapopliteal peripheral arterial disease. The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of infrapopliteal At with angioplasty vs angioplasty alone in patients with critical limb ischemia.MethodsThis is a retrospective, single-center, longitudinal study comparing patients undergoing either infrapopliteal At with angioplasty or angioplasty alone for critical limb ischemia, between January 2014 and October 2017. The primary outcome was primary patency rates. Secondary outcomes were reintervention rates, assisted primary patency, secondary patency, major adverse cardiac events, major adverse limb events, amputation-free survival, overall survival, and wound healing rates. Data were analyzed in multivariate generalized linear models with log rank tests to determine survival in Kaplan-Meier curves.ResultsThere were 342 infrapopliteal interventions, 183 percutaneous balloon angioplasty (PTA; 54%), and 159 atherectomies (At) with PTA (46%) performed on 290 patients, with a mean age of 67 ± 12 years; 61% of the patients were male. The PTA and At/PTA groups had similar demographics, tissue loss (79% vs 84%; P = .26), ischemic rest pain (21% vs 16%; P = .51), mean follow-up (19 ± 9 vs 20 ± 9 months; P = .32), mean number of vessels treated (1.7 ± 0.8 vs 1.9 ± 0.8; P = .08) and the mean lesion length treated (6.55 ± 5.00 cm vs 6.02 ± 4.00 cm; P = .08), respectively. Similar 3-month (96 ± 1% vs 94 ± 1%), 6-month (85 ± 2% vs 86 ± 3%), 12-month (68 ± 3% vs 69 ± 4%), and 18-month (57 ± 4% vs 62 ± 4%) primary patency rates were seen in the two groups (P = .87). At/PTA patients had significantly higher reintervention rates as compared with the PTA patients (28% vs 16%; P = .02). Similar assisted primary patency rates (67 ± 4% vs 69 ± 4%; P = .78) and secondary patency rates (61 ± 4% vs 66 ± 4%; P = .98) were seen in the PTA and At/PTA groups at 18 months. The 30-days major adverse cardiac event rates (3% vs 2%; P = .13) and 30-day major adverse limb event rates (5% vs 4%; P = .2) were similar in both groups. Wound healing rates (72 ± 3% vs 75 ± 2%; P = .12), 1-year amputation-free survival (68 ± 4.1% vs 70 ± 2%; P = .5), and 1-year overall survival (76 ± 4% vs 78 ± 4%; P = .39) rates did not differ in the PTA and At/PTA groups. THE At/PTA group had higher local complication rates (7 [4%] vs 1 [0.5%]; P = .03)ConclusionsAt with angioplasty provides similar patency rates compared with angioplasty alone for infrapopliteal peripheral arterial disease, but associated with higher reintervention and local complication rates. Further appropriately designed studies are required to determine the exact role of At in this subset of patients.     

Paclitaxel drug-coated balloon angioplasty for the treatment of failing arteriovenous fistulas: a single-center experience

Abstract

Objectives: To report our experience of angioplasty with Lutonix (Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc., Tempe, AZ) drug-coated balloon (DCB) for the treatment of failing arteriovenous fistulas (AVF).

Materials and methods: Retrospective, single-center analysis consisting of 14 patients treated with Lutonix paclitaxel DCBs in the period from July 2015 through April 2017. We analyzed technical success, clinical success, primary patency of the target lesion, primary patency of the dialysis circuit, and the rate of complications. Regular follow-up of AVF patency was realized by clinical examination and duplex ultrasonography. The Kaplan–Meier survival method was applied to determine the cumulative primary patency of the target lesion and the dialysis circuit.

Results: Technical success was 100% and clinical success 92.9%. There were no major or minor complications. Cumulative target lesion primary patency after DCB was 69.2% at 6 months and 31.6% at 12 months. Cumulative vascular circuit primary patency was 61.5% at 6 months and 31.6% at 12 months.

Conclusion: Compared to results reported in literature with plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA), Lutonix paclitaxel DCB angioplasty proved a short-term patency benefit in treatment of dialysis AVF stenosis.     

Cutting balloon angioplasty in hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula stenosis resistant to conventional balloon angioplasty

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of cutting balloon angioplasty for the treatment of hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula stenosis resistant to conventional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Methods The patients with arteriovenous fistula stenosis who had suboptimal results (residual stenosis ＞30%) by conventional PTA from December 2011 to February 2015 were enrolled. All the patients received cutting balloon angioplasty were rechecked every three months. Results A total of 25 patients with age of (60.7±12.9) years had suboptimal PTA results. Eleven patients with native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and 14 patients with graft fistula (AVG) underwent cutting PTA for 30 times. The technical success rate was 86.7% and clinical success rate was 100%. The diameter stenosis pre-procedural and post-procedural of cutting PTA was (1.7±0.6) mm and (4.5±0.8) mm respectively (P＜0.05). Six patients had multiple lesions and the stenosis consisted of 21 outflow venous, 6 graft-to-vein anastomosis, 6 cephalic arch, 2 artery and 1 puncture hole stenosis. The primary access patency at 3 and 6 months for AVF group were 70.0% and 10.0%, while for AVG group the figures were 64.3% and 7.1% (P＞0.05). The secondary access patency at 3 and 6 months for AVF group were 70.0% and 30.0%, while for AVG group the figures were 85.7% and 64.3% (P＞0.05). The follow-up time was (8.1±7.3) months. The restenosis rate was 64.0%. Cutting PTA failed to achieve technical success for four times, of whom 2 patients required graft stent implantation and 2 patients required ultra-high-pressure balloons angioplasty to finally achieve technical success. The median survival time of fistula was 173 days. Conclusions Cutting balloon angioplasty have well short-term patency and safety in arteriovenous fistula stenosis resistant to conventional PTA, especially for calcified lesion or "balloon waist". Although it could provide a satisfied long patency by recurrent PTA, the use of cutting balloon would be not advocated as the first-line treatment for fistula stenosis. The efficacy superiority of cutting balloon between AVF and AVG, as well as the cost-effect comparison between cutting balloon and high-pressure balloon, remains unclear, the verification of which requires large-sampled, prospective and randomized studies.     

Balloon angioplasty to facilitate autogenous arteriovenous access maturation: a new paradigm for upgrading small-caliber veins, improved function, and surveillance

Balloon angioplasty maturation is emerging as an important method to increase utilization and improve function of autogenous arteriovenous hemodialysis accesses (AVFs). Through the sequential dilation of small veins, large-diameter AVFs can be created with the inherent benefits of easier cannulation, greater overall surface area, improved patency, and fewer complications. A usable AVF can be created in a shorter amount of time, decreasing the need for dialysis catheters. In addition, selective angioplasty of the AVF inflow and outflow can facilitate improved flow rates and increase access longevity. Our approach, including primary balloon angioplasty during AVF creation, sequential balloon angioplasty maturation, and surveillance fistulagrams will be presented.     

Central venous occlusion in hemodialysis access: Comparison between percutaneous transluminal angioplasty alone and nitinol or stainless-steel stent placement

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the primary and secondary patency rates of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) alone with those of metallic stent placement in patients with hemodialysis access and central venous occlusion (CVO) and to compare the respective effects of nitinol and stainless-steel stents on patency.Materıals and methodsA total of 150 consecutive patients with hemodialysis access who underwent endovascular treatment for symptomatic CVO with ipsilateral functioning hemodialysis access were evaluated. There were 67 men and 83 women with a mean age of 56.2 ± 15.2 (SD) years (range: 15–86 years). The primary endovascular treatment of CVO was PTA alone. Stent placement either with nitinol or stainless-steel stents was performed as a bailout procedure. The results were analyzed on a per patient basis.ResultsTechnical success was achieved in 141/150 patients (94%). Of the 141 patients, 109 (77%) underwent PTA alone and 32 (23%) underwent stent placement. The mean number of interventions in the stent group [4.3 ± 2.5 (SD)] was significantly higher than that in the PTA alone group [2.6 ± 2.8 (SD)] (P = 0.002). The primary patency rates at 12, 24, and 60 months for the stent group (58.7%, 41.9%, and 27.9%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the PTA alone group (42.4%, 36.3%, and 20.2%, respectively) (P = 0.036). Secondary patency rates at 12, 24, and 60 months for the stent group (87.6%, 80.7%, and 50.3%, respectively) were significantly greater than those in the PTA alone group (68.4%, 56%, and 38.6%, respectively) (P = 0.046). Furthermore, the primary patency rates at 6 and 12 months in the nitinol stent group (89% and 80.9%, respectively) were significantly greater than those in the stainless-steel stent group (78.8% and 38.4%, respectively) (P = 0.007). The secondary patency rates at 6, 12 and 24 months for the nitinol stent group (92.8%, 87.7% and 65.8%, respectively) were significantly greater than those in the stainless-steel stent group (85.7%, 76.2% and 65.3%, respectively) (P = 0.011).ConclusıonAlthough PTA alone is an effective interventional treatment strategy of CVO in short term, stent placement yields greater primary and secondary patency rates in the long-term. But the mean number of interventions per vein after stenting is significantly higher. Close follow-up and multiple re-interventions are necessary to ensure long-term patency.     

Arteriovenous fistula aneurysmorrhaphy is associated with improved patency and decreased vascular access abandonment

BackgroundUpper extremity hemodialysis arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) can become aneurysmal over time due to repeated cannulation and/or outflow steno-occlusive disease. The optimal surgical management of aneurysmal AVFs (aneurysmorrhaphy vs interposition graft) has remained unclear.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review in which current procedural terminology codes were used to screen for patients who had undergone surgical treatment of aneurysmal AVFs between 2016 and 2021 at a single hospital system. The patients were included after a review of the operative reports. The cases were divided by surgical procedure (aneurysmorrhaphy vs interposition graft placement). The patients who had undergone primary AVF ligation or other types of repair were excluded. The primary outcomes were primary assisted and secondary patency, and the secondary outcome was dialysis access abandonment. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to test the association between the type of AVF aneurysm repair and the primary and secondary outcomes.ResultsFrom 2016 to 2021, 6951 patients had undergone 16,190 dialysis access procedures. Of these procedures, 381 (2.4%) were related to surgical treatment of an aneurysmal AVF. We excluded 58 primary AVF ligation cases and 20 cases involving other types of repair, leaving 303 cases for analysis. These were divided into two groups: aneurysmorrhaphy (n = 123; 41%) and interposition graft (n = 180; 59%). No differences were found between the groups in male gender (68% vs 63%), hypertension (98% vs 98%), or central stenosis (14% vs 22%). The patients who had undergone aneurysmorrhaphy were younger (median age, 54 years vs 59 years); had had a lower rate of diabetes (41% vs 59%), coronary artery disease (41% vs 58%), and congestive heart failure (41% vs 55%); and were less likely to have undergone upper arm access (72% vs 92%). The median follow-up was 11.1 months (interquartile range, 3.6-25.2 months). No differences were found in the incidence of 30-day wound complications (1% vs 3%) or surgical site infections (4% vs 6%). On multivariable Cox regression, interposition graft placement was associated with the loss of primary assisted patency (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-4.95), loss of secondary patency (aHR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.21-7.94), and abandonment of dialysis access (aHR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.61-5.87; P < .05 for all) at 2 years.ConclusionsAVF aneurysmorrhaphy was associated with improved primary assisted and secondary patency and decreased abandonment of dialysis access. We suggest using aneurysmorrhaphy when AVF aneurysms are indicated for repair. However, individual factors such as patient comorbidities, AVF anatomy, remaining dialysis access options, and patient preference should be considered when planning the surgical approach.     

Outcome of drug-eluting balloon angioplasty versus endarterectomy in common femoral artery occlusive disease

Objective

Common femoral artery (CFA) occlusive disease remains a debatable site for endovascular therapy, and the outcome of drug-eluting balloon (DEB) angioplasty in treating CFA occlusive disease is largely unknown. This study compared the efficacy, safety, and short-term patency rate of DEB angioplasty and femoral endarterectomy for treatment of CFA occlusive disease.

Improved Cumulative Survival in Fistulas Requiring Surgical Interventions to Promote Fistula Maturation Compared with Endovascular Interventions

Due to high nonmaturation rates, arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) frequently require intervention(s) to promote maturation. Endovascular or surgical interventions are often undertaken to salvage nonmaturing AVFs. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of surgical versus endovascular interventions to promote AVF maturation on cumulative AVF survival. We evaluated 89 patients with new AVF placement from a Veterans Affairs population over a 5‐year period. Of these, 46 (52%) required intervention(s) to achieve successful maturation for dialysis: 31 patients had surgical revisions and 15 patients had endovascular repairs. We compared cumulative survival between AVFs requiring no intervention, surgical revision, and endovascular intervention to promote AVF maturation. Cumulative survival was longer in AVFs receiving surgical intervention compared with angioplasty to promote AVF maturation (p = 0.05). One‐year cumulative survival was 86% vs. 83% vs. 40% for no intervention vs. surgery vs. angioplasty, respectively. In AVFs that required interventions to promote maturation, AVFs with surgical intervention had longer cumulative survival compared with those AVFs with endovascular intervention. AVFs with surgical intervention to promote maturation had similar 1‐year cumulative survival to those AVFs that did not require intervention to promote maturation.     

Central vein obstruction in hemodialysis patients: results of radiological and surgical intervention.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Symptomatic central venosus obstruction (CVO) in dialysis patients with arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) leads to significant morbidity and patient inconvenience. We evaluated the results of surgical and radiological interventional treatment of symptomatic central venous obstruction. METHODS: Clinical data, site and length of vein obstruction, type and outcome of intervention were obtained from patient records. Patency rates of radiological and surgical treatment were calculated using Life Table survival analysis. RESULTS: In 28 patients with VH, 45 interventions (percutaneous intervention 30; surgical reconstruction 10; AVF closure five) were performed. Mean vessel obstruction length was 4.9 cm, mainly localized in the subclavian vein (55%). Initial clinical success rate of PTA and surgery was 92%, with complications after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) on six occasions. Restenosis after PTA was observed in 39%. One-year primary and secondary patency after PTA was 50 and 63%, respectively. One-year primary patency after surgical reconstruction was 75%. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic CVO in dialysis patients with AVFs can be treated with a high success rate through radiological intervention. Surgical reconstruction is an appropriate alternative method in case of failed PTA.     

超声引导下腔内血管成形术治疗动静脉内瘘狭窄早期疗效评估

目的探讨超声引导下腔内血管成形术在治疗血液透析动静脉内瘘(AVF)狭窄的早期疗效。方法回顾性分析接受超声引导下经皮腔内血管成形术(PTA)治疗的24例前臂AVF狭窄的透析患者的临床资料,比较术前及术后即刻狭窄处内径,对通畅率采用Kaplan-Meier生存分析。结果 24例患者均获得技术成功,成功率为100%(24/24)。无穿刺部位假性动脉瘤及皮下血肿等并发症发生,除1例术后AVF血栓形成,围术期无患者死亡。术后随访3、6、9、12个月的初级通畅率分别为87.50%(21/24)、83.33%(20/24)、79.17%(19/24)、58.33%(14/24)。结论超声引导下PTA治疗AVF狭窄性病变微创、安全,是AVF狭窄性病变的合理治疗方法,近期效果明显。     

Cost-effectiveness of Vascular Access for Haemodialysis: Arteriovenous Fistulas Versus Arteriovenous Grafts

BackgroundThe use of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for haemodialysis treatment may be associated with a high early failure rate, but usually good long-term patency, while using an arteriovenous graft (AVG) yields a lower early failure rate with worse long-term patency. The aim of this study was to calculate and compare the costs and outcome of AVF and AVG surgery in terms of early and long-term patencies.MethodsA decision tree and a Markov model were constructed to calculate costs and performance of AVFs and AVGs. The model was populated with a retrospective cohort of HD patients receiving their first VA. The outcomes were determined probabilistically with a 5-year follow-up.ResultsAVFs were usable for a mean (95% CI) of 28.5 months (24.6–32.5 months), while AVGs showed a patency of 25.5 months (20.0–31.2 months). The use of AVFs was the dominant type of VA and €631 could be saved per patient/per month patency compared to AVG use. Regardless of the willingness to pay, the use of AVFs yielded a higher probability of being cost-effective compared to AVGs.ConclusionsAVFs are more cost-effective than AVGs. Nonetheless, early failure rates significantly influence AVF performance and initiatives to reduce early failure can improve its cost-effectiveness.     

Surgical and endovascular intervention for infrainguinal vein graft stenosis

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stenosis-free patency of open repair (vein-patch angioplasty, interposition, jump grafting) and percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) of 144 vein graft stenoses that were detected during duplex scan surveillance after infrainguinal vein bypass grafting. Methods: Patients who underwent revision of an infrainguinal vein bypass graft were analyzed for type of vein conduit, vascular laboratory findings leading to revision, repair techniques, assisted graft patency rate, procedure mortality rate, and restenosis of the repair site. Results: The time of postoperative revision ranged from 1 day to 133 months (mean, 13 months). One hundred eighteen primary and 26 recurrent stenoses (peak systolic velocity, >300 cm/s) in 52 tibial and 35 popliteal vein bypass grafts were identified by means of duplex scanning. The repairs consisted of 77 open procedures (vein-patch angioplasty, 28; vein interposition, 33; jump graft, 9; primary repair, 3) and 67 PTAs. No patient died as a result of intervention. Cumulative assisted graft patency rate (life-table analysis) was 91% at 1 year and 80% at 3 years. At 2 years, cumulative assisted graft patency rate was comparable for saphenous vein grafts (reversed, 94%; in situ, 88%; nonreversed, 63%) and alternative vein grafts (89%). Stenosis-free patency rate at 2 years was identical (P = .55) for surgical intervention (63%) and endovascular intervention (63%) but varied with type of surgical revision (P = .04) and time of intervention (<4 months, 45%; >4 months, 71%; P = .006). The use of duplex scan–monitored PTA to treat focal stenoses (<2 cm) and late-appearing stenoses (>3 months) was associated with a stenosis-free patency rate that was 89% at 1 year. After intervention, the alternative vein bypass grafts necessitated twice the reinterventions per month of graft survival (P = .01). Bypass graft to the popliteal versus infrageniculate arteries, site of graft stenosis (vein conduit, anastomotic region), and repair of a primary versus a recurrent stenosis did not influence the outcome after intervention. Conclusion: The revision of duplex scan–detected vein graft stenosis with surgical or endovascular techniques was associated with an excellent patency rate, including when intervention on alternative vein conduits or treatment of restenosis was necessary. When PTA was selected on the basis of clinical and duplex scan selection criteria, the endovascular treatment of focal vein graft stenosis was effective, durable, and comparable with the surgical revision of more extensive lesions. (J Vasc Surg 1999;29:60-71.)     

Portal vein obstruction after pediatric liver transplantation: A systematic review of current treatment strategies

IntroductionPortal vein obstruction (PVO) is a significant vascular complication after liver transplantation (LT) in pediatric patients. Current treatment strategies include percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), with or without stent placement, mesorex bypass (MRB), splenorenal shunt, mesocaval shunt, endovascular recanalization (EVR), splenic artery embolization and splenectomy. However, specific characteristics of patients undergoing intervention and selection of individual treatment and its efficacy have remained unclear. This review systematically analyzed biochemical and clinical characteristics, selection of treatment, efficacy, and post-procedural complications.MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed and Embase between January 1995 and March 2021 for studies on the management of PVO after LT. We analyzed the reports for biochemical and clinical characteristics at the timing of the intervention in different patients, selection of treatment, and reported efficacies.ResultsWe found 22 cohort studies with 362 patients who had the following characteristics: biliary atresia (83%), living-donor LT (85%), thrombocytopenia (73%), splenomegaly (40%), ascites (16%), or gastrointestinal bleeding (26%). The 3-year primary patency of PTA without stent placement was similar to that with stent placement (70%–80% and 43%–94%, respectively). MRB was used as an initial treatment with a 3-year patency of 75% to 100%. One study showed that 5-year primary patency of EVR was 80%. Secondary patency was 90% to 100% after 3 years in all studies with PTA alone, PTA/stent placement, and stent placement alone.ConclusionThis is the first review of all treatment protocols in PVO after pediatric LT. We showed that an important group of patients has severe symptoms of portal hypertension. Efficacy of all treatment modalities was high in the included studies which make them important modalities for these patients.     

Achieving high maturation and cannulation rates of radial-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas with VasQ™ device

Background

Hemodialysis is the predominant treatment modality for chronic kidney disease, with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) being considered to be the preferred type of long-term vascular access. Implantation of the external anastomotic VasQ™ support device during AVF creation has been suggested to improve the functional outcomes of AVFs. In the current study, we report the clinical outcomes when using the device with radial-cephalic AVF (RCAVF) creation in a large cohort over 3 years.

Methods

One hundred fifty RCAVFs were created between June 2018 and August 2021 with implantation of VasQ™. Time to maturation, cannulation characteristics, and assisted (AP) and secondary patency (SP) rates were analyzed.

Results

In this predominantly male (68%), median 64 years old cohort, 150 VasQ™ devices were implanted. Physiological maturation was achieved in 142/150 (95%) and was unassisted in 133/150 (89%). Of those, 129 matured within 1 month and four additional AVFs within 165 days. Eight AVFs achieved maturation following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, and one required surgical patch angioplasty. The median time from creation to first successful cannulation in dialysis patients was 41 days. AP at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months was 89%, 81%, 78%, 73%, and 73%, and SP was 94%, 87%, 86%, 84%, and 84%, respectively.

Conclusions

Consistent use of the VasQ™ device in RCAVF creation demonstrates excellent AVF maturation and patency rates with very low frequency of assisted maturation and interventions for maintenance. The VasQ™ device appears a suitable aid in increasing the creation of functional RCAVFs.