title: Aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms in dialysis access.
abstract: Aneurysms are a common and often difficult complication seen with arteriovenous vascular access for haemodialysis. The purpose of this narrative review is to define and describe the scale of the problem and suggested therapeutic strategies. A narrative review of the published literature illustrated by individual cases is presented with the aim of summarising the relevant literature. The definitions of aneurysm are inconsistent throughout the literature and therefore systematic review is impossible. They vary from qualitative descriptions to quantitative definitions using absolute size, relative size and also size plus characteristics. The incidence and aetiology are also ill defined but separation into true aneurysms and false, or pseudoaneurysms may be helpful in planning treatment, which may be conservative, surgical or radiological. The lack of useful definitions and classification along with the multitude of management strategies proposed make firm evidence based conclusions difficult to draw. Further robust well designed studies are required to define best practice for this common problem.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology and Dialysis Unit , Cardinale G. Panico Hospital , Tricase , LE , Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mudoni
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Unit , Magenta Hospital , Magenta, Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornacchiari
authors.affiliation: Nephrology and Dialysis Unit , San Carlo Borromeo Hospital , Milano , Italy ; Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences 'Luigi Sacco' , University of Milano , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallieni
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Unit , Magenta Hospital , Magenta, Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guastoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Surgery and Nephrology , Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McGrogan
authors.affiliation: Network of Nephrology and Dialysis , ASL , Sorgono, Nuoro , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Logias
authors.affiliation: Nephrology, Dialysis and Hypertension , S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital , Bologna , Italy.
authors.forename: Emiliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferramosca
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Unit , Magenta Hospital , Magenta, Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mereghetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Surgery and Nephrology , Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inston
keywords: arteriovenous fistula; arteriovenous graft; haemodialysis; thrombosis; ultrasonography