A Prospective, Randomized Study of an Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Stent Graft versus Balloon Angioplasty for In-Stent Restenosis in Arteriovenous Grafts and Fistulae: Two-Year Results of the RESCUE Study.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene stent graft versus balloon angioplasty for the treatment of in-stent restenosis in the venous outflow of hemodialysis access grafts and fistulae.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred seventy-five patients were randomized at 23 US sites to stent-graft placement or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Primary study endpoints were access circuit primary patency (ACPP) at 6 months and safety through 30 days; secondary endpoints were evaluated through 24 months.

Understanding surgical preference and practice in hemodialysis vascular access creation.

Understanding healthcare providers' preferences, values, and beliefs around AVF eligibility is important to explain variability in practice. We conducted a survey of international surgeons, using hypothetical patient scenarios, to assess resources used, variables, perceived barriers, and absolute contraindications to access creation. A total of 134 surgeons completed the survey.

Minimizing hemodialysis catheter dysfunction: an ounce of prevention.

The maintenance of tunneled catheter (TC) patency is critical for the provision of adequate hemodialysis in patients who are TC-dependent. TC dysfunction results in the need for costly and inconvenient interventions, and reduced quality of life. Since the introduction of TCs in the late 1980s, heparin catheter lock has been the standard prophylactic regimen for the prevention of TC dysfunction.

Academic interventional nephrology: a model for training, research, and patient care.

Dialysis vascular access dysfunction is currently a huge clinical problem. We believe that comprehensive academic-based dialysis vascular access programs that go all the way from basic and translational science investigation to clinical research to a dedicated curriculum and opportunities in vascular access for nephrologists in training are essential for improving dialysis vascular access care. This paper reviews the fundamental concepts and requirements for us to move toward this vision.

Association of factor V gene polymorphism with arteriovenous graft failure.

Background: Dialysis grafts fail due to recurrent stenosis and thrombosis. Vasoactive and prothrombotic substances affecting intimal hyperplasia or thrombosis may modify graft outcomes.

Study Design: Genetic polymorphisms association study of patients enrolled in a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Dialysis vascular access management by interventional nephrology programs at University Medical Centers in the United States.

The development of interventional nephrology has undoubtedly led to an improvement in patient care at many facilities across the United States. However, these services have traditionally been offered by interventional nephrologists in the private practice arena. While interventional nephrology was born in the private practice setting, several academic medical centers across the United States have now developed interventional nephrology programs.

Standardized definitions for hemodialysis vascular access.

Vascular access dysfunction is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among end-stage renal disease patients. Vascular access dysfunction exists in all three types of available accesses: arteriovenous fistulas, arteriovenous grafts, and tunneled catheters. To improve clinical research and outcomes in hemodialysis (HD) access dysfunction, the development of a multidisciplinary network of collaborative investigators with various areas of expertise, and common standards for terminology and classification in all vascular access types, is required.

Clinical management of dialysis catheter-related bacteremia with concurrent exit-site infection.

Dialysis catheter-related bacteremia (CRB) can frequently be treated with systemic antibiotics, in conjunction with an antibiotic lock, in an attempt to salvage the catheter. It is unknown whether CRB associated with an exit-site infection can be treated with such an approach. We retrospectively queried a prospective, computerized vascular access database, and identified 1436 episodes of CRB, of which 64 cases had a concurrent exit site.

Arteriovenous graft placement in predialysis patients: a potential catheter-sparing strategy.

Background: When predialysis patients are deemed unsuitable candidates for an arteriovenous fistula, current guidelines recommend waiting until just before or after initiation of dialysis therapy before placing a graft. This strategy may increase catheter use when these patients start dialysis therapy. We compared the outcomes of patients whose grafts were placed before and after dialysis therapy initiation.

Successful models of interventional nephrology at academic medical centers.

The foundation of endovascular procedures by nephrologists was laid in the private practice arena. Because of political issues such as training, credentialing, space and equipment expenses, and co-management concerns surrounding the performance of dialysis-access procedures, the majority of these programs provided care in an outpatient vascular access center. On the basis of the improvement of patient care demonstrated by these centers, several nephrology programs at academic medical centers have also embraced this approach.

Comparison of radiocephalic fistulas placed in the proximal forearm and in the wrist.

Non-maturation is a common problem in patients receiving an arteriovenous fistula. The first vascular access choice is a distal radiocephalic fistula (dRCF) at the wrist. Patients with a failed dRCF or with vessels unsuitable for dRCF, the recommendation is to place a brachiocephalic fistula in the upper arm.

Does the heparin lock concentration affect hemodialysis catheter patency?

Background And Objectives: Concentrated heparin solutions are instilled into the catheter lumens after each hemodialysis session to prevent catheter thrombosis. The heparin lock concentration at many centers has been decreased recently to reduce the risk of systemic bleeding and contain costs. However, the effect of this change on catheter patency is unknown.

Brachiocephalic vein stent fracture: case series and literature review.

Stent fractures are commonly seen in the arterial circulation and there is paucity of literature describing venous stent fractures particularly in the central venous circulation. In this case series, we describe three patients on hemodialysis who underwent right brachiocephalic vein (BCV) stent placement for severe stenosis in two patients and occlusion in one patient. Over the course of time, these patients clinically presented with arm swelling, pain, and difficulty in dialysis because of stenosis related to stent fracture and intimal hyperplasia.

Who should be referred for a fistula? A survey of nephrologists.

Background: There is marked variation in the use of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) across programmes, regions and countries not explained by differences in patient demographics or comorbidities. The lack of clear criteria of who should or should not get a fistula may contribute to this, as well as barriers to creating AVFs.

Methods: We conducted a survey of Canadian and American nephrologists to assess the patient variables considered to determine the timing and type of access requested.

Patency rates for angioplasty in the treatment of pacemaker-induced central venous stenosis in hemodialysis patients: results of a multi-center study.

While hemodialysis access ligation has been used to manage pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) lead-induced central venous stenosis (CVS), percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) has also been employed to manage this complication. The advantages of PTA include minimal invasiveness and preservation of arteriovenous access for hemodialysis therapy. In this multi-center study we report the patency rates for PTA to manage lead-induced CVS.

Does heparin coating improve patency or reduce infection of tunneled dialysis catheters?

Background And Objectives: Tunneled dialysis catheters are prone to frequent malfunction and infection. Catheter thrombosis occurs despite prophylactic anticoagulant locks. Catheter thrombi may also serve as a nidus for catheter infection, thereby increasing the risk of bacteremia.

Current concepts in the pathophysiology and management of arteriovenous access-induced hand ischemia.

The manifestations of hand ischemia because of an arteriovenous access can range from hand pain, tissue necrosis, and loss of the entire hand. Recent data have emphasized that multiple mechanisms (arterial steal, ie, retrograde flow, arterial stenosis, and arterial calcification) are responsible for inducing hand ischemia. Because any or a combination of the 3 mechanisms can lead to peripheral ischemia, distal hypoperfusion ischemic syndrome is a more appropriate term to denote hand ischemia.

Endovascular stents for dialysis access: under what circumstances do the data support their use?

Despite strict K/DOQI clinical practice guidelines regarding the deployment of stents in the hemodialysis vascular circuit, their use has increased exponentially over the last 10 years in both arteriovenous fistulas and grafts. The literature is very scant regarding outcomes, with most studies suffering from design flaws. Some authors have advocated the use of stents for specific clinical scenarios, such as patients with thrombosed arteriovenous grafts or ones with a severe stenosis at the venous anastomosis.

Percutaneous renal biopsy: outpatient observation without hospitalization is safe.

Percutaneous renal biopsy may be complicated by hemorrhage. Patients are frequently hospitalized for overnight observation. We evaluated prospectively the feasibility and safety of an outpatient renal biopsy protocol.

Clinical outcomes of dialysis catheter-related candidemia in hemodialysis patients.

Background And Objectives: Candidemia is a rare complication in catheter-dependent hemodialysis patients. As a result, there is uncertainty about its optimal medical management. The goal of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical outcomes of catheter-related candidemia managed with two different strategies: Guidewire exchange of the infected catheter versus removal with delayed replacement.

Fluoroscopic and sonographic guidance to place peritoneal catheters: how we do it.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to detail a percutaneous approach to placing peritoneal catheters using sonographic and fluoroscopic guidance. Fluoroscopic-assisted placement of these catheters has been previously described in the literature. We emphasize the use of additional sonographic guidance, including color Doppler sonography, to determine the safest puncture site and to guide the initial needle puncture to avoid bowel perforation and injury to the epigastric artery.

Antibiotic lock for treatment of tunneled hemodialysis catheter bacteremia.

Catheter-related bacteremia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among catheter-dependent hemodialysis patients. Microorganism biofilm matrix formation in the catheter is the pathogenic process of this entity. Administration of systemic antibiotics and removal of the offending catheter is the most logical treatment.

Outcomes of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy of arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients.

Thrombosis of arteriovenous fistulas is usually superimposed on underlying stenosis in the arterial anastomosis, draining vein, or central vein. Restoring the patency of thrombosed fistulas requires mechanical thrombectomy, in conjunction with angioplasty of the underlying lesion. We evaluated the success rate of percutaneous thrombectomy of fistulas at our medical center.

Outcomes of brachiocephalic fistulas, transposed brachiobasilic fistulas, and upper arm grafts.

Background And Objectives: An upper arm vascular access is often placed in patients with a failed forearm fistula or with vessels unsuitable for a forearm fistula. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of three upper arm access types: brachiocephalic fistulas, transposed brachiobasilic fistulas, and grafts.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: A prospective, computerized access database was queried retrospectively to identify the clinical outcomes of upper arm accesses placed in 678 patients at a large dialysis center, including 322 brachiocephalic fistulas, 67 brachiobasilic fistulas, and 289 grafts.