title: Arteriovenous fistula failure: is there a role for accessory draining vein embolization?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Arterio-venous fistulae (AVFs) are accepted as the best form of haemodialysis vascular access (VA) but are plagued by high primary failure. Accessory drainage veins (ADVs) may account for up to 40% of these failures. Furthermore, they may also lead to low flow in 'mature' AVFs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the results of 42 patients who underwent endovascular coiling of ADVs at our centre over a 4-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indications were failure to mature in 34%, low flow or cannulation difficulty in 56% and thrombosis in 10% of cases. 95% procedures involved a combination of angioplasty and coiling with only 5% patients having coiling of ADV alone. Forearm AVFs constituted the majority of the cases as opposed to upper arm AVFs (74% vs. 26% respectively). Primary patency at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months was 90%, 87%, 76%, 70% and 55% respectively. Successful dialysis was achieved in 10 of the 14 fistulae that had hitherto failed to mature. Coil migration was observed in 1 patient, which led to fistula occlusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coil embolisation of ADVs is an effective treatment option for dysfunctional fistulae that can be performed at the same time as angioplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK. milind.nikam@cmft.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Milind
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikam
authors.forename: Radha K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Popuri
authors.forename: Akimichi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: Usamah
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Finn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farquharson
authors.forename: Sandip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chalmers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014680:Veins / Q000503:physiopathology