Balloon angioplasty of venous structures.
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was attempted in 20 patients with stenoses of venous structures. It concerned one stenosis in a native subclavian vein, 12 stenoses in venous bypass grafts and 7 stenoses in hemodialysis-access fistulas. Primary results were excellent for the procedures in the native vein and the venous bypass grafts with success in all patients (13/13). In the arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis, dilatation of the venous stenoses was only possible in 5 out of 7 patients. The subclavian vein stenosis did not recur within a follow-up period of 3 years. Of the stenoses in the venous bypass grafts, two lesions reoccluded within one week and 6 lesions recurred within one year. Two of these lesions were successfully redilated so that 6 lesions remain patent with a follow-up of more than one year. Of the 5 successful dilatations in hemodialysis-access fistulas, two lesions recurred within 2 months. Only 3 veins are still accessible for hemodialysis. It is concluded that attempts at balloon dilatation of stenoses in venous bypass grafts or hemodialysis-access fistulas are meaningful in order to prolong the life of these surgical procedures. Recurrence of stenoses is however likely to occur within one or two years.
Wilms
G
G
Baert
A L
AL
Nevelsteen
A
A
Suy
R
R
Verbrugge
H
H
Hauglustaine
D
D
Michielsen
P
P
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010690:Phlebography; D013350:Subclavian Vein; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000628:therapy*