title: Balloon angioplasty of venous structures.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilms
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Baert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevelsteen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verbrugge
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hauglustaine
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michielsen
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010690:Phlebography; D013350:Subclavian Vein; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000628:therapy*