[Peripheral venous stenoses of hemodialysis shunts: improved long-term patency rates with stent placement]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular stents placed in the peripheral veins of hemodialysis shunts.

156 endovascular stents were placed in the peripheral veins of 155 hemodialysis shunts with 220 stenoses. Among these, 106 stenoses of 93 hemodialysis shunts had been treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) before stent placement.

The initial success rate was 97.7%. Primary radiologic patency rates of the stents at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 69.8%, 49.1%, and 45.8%, respectively. Secondary radiologic patency rates at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years were 94.0%, 91.8%, and 88.0%, respectively. Primary clinical patency rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 64.4%, 43.4%, and 27.3%; while secondary clinical patency rates at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years were 93.5%, 86.5%, and 73.4%, respectively. Radiologic and clinical primary patency rates of 106 stenoses and 93 hemodialysis shunts were significantly higher than those of PTA that had been performed before stents were placed.

Stent placement for stenoses of the peripheral veins of hemodialysis shunts recurring in three months and treated by PTA alone can improve long-term patency.