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Updated: Jul 31, 2025

A Rat Carotid Artery Pressure-Controlled Segmental Balloon Injury with Periadventitial Therapeutic Application
Published on: July 9, 2020
Dialysis Access Maintenance: Plain Balloon Angioplasty
Lakshmi Ratnam1,2, Narayan Karunanithy3,4, Leto Mailli5,6
1Department of Interventional Radiology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. lakshmi.ratnam@stgeorges.nhs.uk.
Abstract:
Plain balloon angioplasty remains the first-line treatment for dialysis access stenosis. This chapter reviews the outcomes of plain balloon angioplasty from cohort studies and comparative studies. Angioplasty outcomes are more favourable in arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) compared to arteriovenous grafts (AVG) with primary patency at 6 months ranging from 42-63% compared to 27-61%, respectively, and improved for forearm fistulae compared with upper arm fistulae. Higher pressures are required to treat stenoses in AVFs compared to AVGs. Outcomes are worse in more severe stenoses, increased patient age, previous interventions and fistulae that develop early stenoses. Major complication rates following angioplasty in dialysis access are between 3 and 5%. Repeat treatments and the use of adjuncts such as drug-coated balloons and stents can prolong the patency of dialysis access. Level of Evidence No level of evidence (Review paper).
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