Effect of Secondary Interventions on Patency of Vascular Access Sites for Hemodialysis

PurposeTo determine the impact of secondary procedures performed to maintain arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and arteriovenous graft (AVG) patency.MethodsThere hundred and eighty six vascular access procedures were retrospectively evaluated. 156 (40.4%) patients required radiological interventions to treat acute thrombosis, swelling of the extremity with the access site, insufficient hemodialysis, or stenosis at an anastomotic site.ResultsThe 386 cases comprised 106 AVGs and 280 AVFs. In 138 of the 156 cases, which required a radiological intervention, the treatment was successful and saved the vascular access site. The unassisted post-intervention patency time for these 138 successful cases was 13.1 ± 12 months (range, 1–65 months). Twenty-nine (63%) of the 46 access sites treated with surgical thrombectomy were saved.ConclusionsFrequent, regular follow-up of hemodialysis patients with vascular access sites is the best way to diagnose problems early and allow the best chance of long-term function.