title: Dialysis access fistulas: treatment of stenoses by transluminal angioplasty.
abstract: Fifty-six balloon dilatations in 51 patients with upper-extremity dialysis access fistulas were performed over a 4-year period. Forty-four venous anastomotic lesions in patients with either internal or graft fistulas were dilated. Three arterial anastomotic lesions and nine distant venous stenoses were treated. Thirty-nine of 56 (70%) dilatations were initially successful. Of the initial successes, 28/35 (80%) were patent at 3 months, 19/27 (70%) at 6 months, 12/22 (55%) at 1 year, 7/14 (50%) at 2 years, and 3/9 (33%) at 3 years. Three complications (5%) were encountered. These included two graft thromboses and one pseudoaneurysm at the dilatation site. The procedure may be performed on an outpatient basis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis