Combination of duplex ultrasound-guided manual declotting and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in thrombosed native dialysis fistulas.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the safety, feasibility, efficacy, and long-term patency rate of manual declotting under duplex ultrasound (US) guidance followed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in thrombosed native arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs).


METHODS
Of 87 consecutive thrombosed AVFs evaluated by duplex US, 22 patients with 25 recently thrombotic events in 22 AVFs were suitable for manual declotting. PTA was performed following successful declotting, and long-term patency was assessed.


RESULTS
The procedure success rate of manual declotting was 80% (20 of 25), and a residual stenosis of 74+/-9% was identified by duplex US after declotting. PTA reduced the diameter stenosis to 25+/-6% and increased the lumen diameter from 1.33 +/-0.85 mm to 4.62+/-0.98 mm. Neither embolic nor bleeding complications were noted during the procedure. The average procedure time and the fluoroscopy time were 28.4+/-9.9 and 7.2+/-4.1 minutes, respectively. Primary patency rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 47%, 35%, and 28%; assisted primary patency rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 71%, 63%, and 63%; and secondary patency rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 76%, 71%, and 63%, respectively, during a maximum follow-up period of 42 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of duplex US-guided manual declotting and angioplasty of underlying stenosis is a safe and feasible method to treat recently thrombosed native AVFs in selected patients. It simplifies the interventional procedure, reduces cost and radiation exposure time, and extends life span of dialysis fistula with acceptable long-term patency rate.
Huang
Hsuan-Li
HL
Second Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Chun-Chi
CC
Chang
Shang-Hung
SH
Hung
Kuo-Chun
KC
Hsieh
I-Chang
IC
Chang
Hern-Jia
HJ
Wen
Ming-Shien
MS
Fang
Ji-Tseng
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000379:methods; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology