Background and aim
Vascular access dysfunction is serious for hemodialysis patients. Interventional radiologist is
able to salvage hemodialysis access fistulas with excellent clinical success.
Patients and methods
The procedures were carried out in the Interventional Radiology Unit of National Guard
Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 2010 and March 2012. In total, 60 patients
of vascular access dysfunction were included, who underwent diagnostic interventional
angiographic procedures.
Results
A total of 60 patients included in study were divided into three groups: group I, which included
six patients (10%) with synthetic grafts; group II, which included 15 patients (25%) with tunneled
dialysis catheter; and group III, which included 39 patients (65%) with native fistulas. The
angiographic success rate was lower for fistulas than for grafts (74.36 vs. 83.33%).
Conclusion
The catheter-based treatment of thrombosed and failing hemodialysis accesses achieves
technical and clinical success in the majority of cases and allows patients to undergo immediate
hemodialysis without the need for the placement of temporary dialysis catheters or surgical
consumption of additional venous conduits. |
