Access-related venous stenoses and occlusions: treatment with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and Dacron-covered stents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of using Dacron-covered stents to treat access-related venous stenoses and occlusions.


METHODS
Twenty-two Dacron-covered stents were placed in 20 patients: in the basilic or axillary vein (n = 2), cephalic vein (n = 3), subclavian vein (n = 5), and at the venous anastomosis of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) implant graft (n = 10).


RESULTS
Initial technical success was 100%. The cumulative primary and secondary patency rates were 57% and 83% at 6 months, 29% and 64% at 12 months, and 29% and 53% at 18 months. A statistically significant difference in the stent patency was revealed by comparing the patients with stents in the subclavian vein and patients with upper arm stents. The secondary patency rates of the upper arm stents were 73% after 6, 12, and 18 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous placement of Dacron-covered stents is a safe and effective procedure for salvage of a dialysis fistula. First results are promising, with a tendency to prolongation of the time interval between reinterventions.
Farber
A
A
Department of Radiology II, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Barbey
M M
MM
Grunert
J H
JH
Gmelin
E
E
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D015607:Stents; D013350:Subclavian Vein; D014654:Vascular Patency
D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates