Percutaneous management of thrombosed dialysis access grafts

Outcomes of Endovascular Treatment for Salvaging Failed Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Fistula - Role of Balloon Angioplasty as Initial Therapy

Background

This study aims to evaluate the technical and clinical outcomes of endovascular treatment for failed native hemodialysis fistulas, mainly the role of balloon angioplasty in salvaging thrombosed and stenosed arteriovenous fistulas.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study was done on 23 patients who had presented with non-functioning dialysis fistulas. The mean age of the patients was 58.7 ± 2.3 years. The cause of failure was thrombosis in 14 cases (61%) and stenosis in 9 cases (39%). All patients initially underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), followed by thromboaspiration depending on the thrombus load and extent.

Results

A total of 27 salvage procedures were performed on 23 patients. Technical success was achieved in 24 procedures (88.8%), and clinical success was 81.5%. Patients were followed up for mean duration of 9.5 months (range: 1-19 months). Eight out of 23 accesses initially revised failed again due to repeat thrombosis, of which four patients underwent repeat procedures. The mean duration to re-intervention was 5.5 ± 1.3 months. The primary patency rates were 79% at 3 months and 60% at 6, 12, and 18 months. The cumulative (secondary) patency rates were 73% at 6 months and 66% at 12 and 18 months. Minor complications were seen in three procedures (11%), which included venous extravasation in two cases and prolonged bleeding from puncture site in one case.

Conclusion

Percutaneous balloon angioplasty can be used as first-line procedure in failed hemodialysis fistulas, in both cases of stenosis and/or thrombosis, followed by thromboaspiration if required.

Direct Percutaneous Thrombolysis (DPT): A novel method of salvaging Thrombosed Native Arteriovenous Fistula

INTRODUCTION

Thrombosed arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are either treated by thrombectomy or pharmaco-mechanical thrombolysis with or without percutaneous balloon angioplasty. In this study, we have described an effective and economical technique of salvaging these fistulae using a 20-22-gauge spinal needle and urokinase and have named it direct percutaneous thrombolysis (DPT).

MATERIALS AND METHOD

This prospective study comprised of 148 patients out of which 120 patients presented with AVF thrombosis and were divided into two groups; those with no obvious stenosis on ultrasound (n = 38) and second with venous stenosis (n = 82). Remaining 28 patients developed thrombosis post angioplasty for venous stenosis. Percutaneous injection of urokinase into the thrombus was done under ultrasound guidance, followed by balloon angioplasty if there was associated stenosis.

RESULTS

In 38 patients who didn't have any stenosis, 32 AVFs were successfully thrombolysed by DPT, with technical success of 84.2%. Remaining six patients required angioplasty because of chronic nature of clot. In 82 patients who had venous stenosis, 80 cases were treated successfully by DPT followed by angioplasty with technical success of 97.5%. In third group (n = 28), who developed thrombosis post angioplasty, 100% success rate was noted. The mean length of thrombus was 31.4 ± 4.6 mm and mean diameter of thrombosed vein was 10.5 ± 1.2 mm. There were no major complications encountered during the procedure. Minor complications were seen in 19 patients which included prolonged oozing from puncture site and local hematoma formation.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound guided DPT with urokinase is a safe and economical option for salvaging thrombosed AVF without vascular stenosis that does not need angioplasty.

Ultrasound-Guided Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis and Angioplasty for Treatment of Acute Thrombotic Prosthetic Arteriovenous Access: 5-Year Experience with 154 Procedures in a Single Center

Pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the treatment of acute thrombotic prosthetic arteriovenous access (PAVA) are conventionally guided by radiography, which may cause radiation injury and requires the use of radiographic contrast media. The aim of the present study was to summarize our experience with ultrasound-guided PMT and PTA as an alternative to radiographic guidance. Between December 2012 and October 2016, 114 patients with acute thrombosis of PAVA were treated urgently with ultrasound-guided PMT and PTA to restore blood flow. The patients were followed up every 3 mo postoperatively. The 114 included patients underwent 154 episodes of ultrasound-guided PMT and PTA and were followed up for a mean of 20.7 ± 9.1 mo. The technical success rate was 91.6%, and the clinical success rate was 97.4%. Post-intervention-assisted primary patency rates at 3, 6, 12 and 24 mo were 90.8%, 78.8%, 66.3% and 50.9%, respectively. Post-intervention secondary patency rates at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months were 96.3%, 94.5%, 90.6% and 85.4%, respectively. PMT and PTA for the treatment of PAVA were performed successfully under the guidance of ultrasound with a success rate similar to that under radiographic guidance, thus avoiding radiation injury and contrast medium use, although close surveillance and timely intervention are imperative to ensure long-term patency.