A novel technique for duplex-guided office-based interventions for patients with acute arteriovenous fistula...

The purpose of the study was to aggressively salvage acutely occluded arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) using duplex imaging as the sole imaging modality for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of acutely thrombosed AVF.

Over a period of 12 months, 14 patients with acute thrombosis of their AVFs underwent 18 procedures in a single center for AVF salvage. All 14 patients presented with chronic renal failure, and six were diabetic. All patients were treated under duplex guidance alone. Treatment included simple balloon dilation and maceration (group A; n =10 procedures [56%]) for subacute thrombosis or pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (group B; n = 8 procedures [44%]) for more hypoechoic thrombus. A successful procedure was defined as immediate restoration of flow through the AVF.

Of the 18 procedures, 13 (72%) were successful. Of the 14 patients, thrombus was located at the perianastomotic AVF in 6 (43%), proximal-mid AVF in 6 (43%), mid AVF in 1 (7%), and distal AVF in 1 (7%). From group A, six (60%) were successful. From group B, seven (88%) were successful. Among the unsuccessful procedures, one group B patient was hypercoagulable (polycythemia vera). Of the 18 procedures, 16 (89%) were treated within 2 weeks from when duplex revealed the presence of thrombus. Early rethrombosis (<1-month patency) occurred in three cases (17%), and these patients received new fistulas. Full restoration of the fistula flow was established in 14 cases (78%). Of these 14 patients, 8 (57%) are currently on hemodialysis via fistula, 3 patients (21%) had newly placed fistulas after failed interventions, 2 patients (14%) are not on dialysis yet, and 1 patient (7%) with polycythemia vera disorder is on dialysis via a Tesio catheter (MedComp, Harleysville, Pa).

The sole use of duplex ultrasound imaging to salvage acutely occluded AVFs using percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is a safe and effective alternative to traditional treatment of thrombosed failing/maturing AVF.