Collateral Vein Ligation for Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation: A Pilot Study

Native arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) may fail to achieve adequate blood flow or size for successful cannulation and dialysis. No clear strategy exists concerning the effectiveness of collateral vein ligation (CVL) to improve AVF maturation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CVL in improving AVF maturation.

A retrospective study was performed, including all patients who underwent CVL for delayed AVF maturation between January 2023 and December 2023. Combined procedures, such as concomitant venous stenosis angioplasties, were excluded. Evolution of AVF flow after CVL compared with AVF flow before CVL was recorded. The primary endpoint was defined as successful maturation after CVL. The AVF was considered mature when it could be routinely cannulated for the total duration of dialysis, for at least six months.

Median follow up was eleven months (range 6-14 months). CVL allowed successful maturation in five of the six patients, with a median AVF flow increase of 44%. In these five patients, sustained dialysis after CVL was uneventful, without need for any additional interventions.

These results highlight the potential effectiveness of CVL in improving AVF maturation, although larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.