Safety and efficacy of a new covered stent in hemodialysis vascular access outflow stenosis: A Brazilian multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Vascular stenosis commonly leads to dysfunction in hemodialysis vascular access. Although percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is an established treatment, stent utilization has increased in the last decade as an alternative solution to extend the access function. This study evaluated the safety and initial results of a new impermeable covered stent for treating vascular access outflow stenosis.

METHODS

Investigators retrospectively analyzed 114 hemodialysis patients treated with polytetrafluorethylene-covered stents from September 2018 to September 2022 across four centers. Lesions treated were de novo or restenotic and located in the venous graft anastomosis, outflow segment, cephalic arch, and basilic swing point. Patients were followed by in-person physical examination at 1, 3, and 6 months, and Duplex ultrasound was performed to evaluate the vascular access circuit and in-stent restenosis. The primary efficacy endpoint was target lesion primary patency at 1, 3, and 6 months. Secondary endpoints included access circuit primary patency and secondary patency at 1, 3, and 6 months. The primary safety endpoint was freedom from local or systemic serious adverse events through 30 days post-procedure.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients had thrombosed access at the initial presentation, and 41 patients presented with recurrent stenosis. The target lesion primary patency rates at 1, 3, and 6 months were 100%, 89.4%, and 74%, respectively. The access circuit primary patency rates were 100% at 1 month, 85% at 3 months, and 62.7% at 6 months. The secondary patency rates at 1, 3, and 6 months were 100%, 96.4%, and 94.6%, respectively. In the adjusted multivariate Cox regression analysis, only recurrent lesions and female gender were associated with reduced primary patency rates. No serious adverse event was observed through the first 30 days post-procedure.

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective analysis, a new covered stent was shown to be safe and effective for treating peripheral outflow stenosis in vascular access.

Guidelines on vascular access for hemodialysis from the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery

Chronic kidney disease is a worldwide public health problem, and end-stage renal disease requires dialysis. Most patients requiring renal replacement therapy have to undergo hemodialysis. Therefore, vascular access is extremely important for the dialysis population, directly affecting the quality of life and the morbidity and mortality of this patient population. Since making, managing and salvaging of vascular accesses falls within the purview of the vascular surgeon, developing guideline to help specialists better manage vascular accesses for hemodialysis if of great importance. Thus, the objective of this guideline is to present a set of recommendations to guide decisions involved in the referral, evaluation, choice, surveillance and management of complications of vascular accesses for hemodialysis.