Angioplasty of Dysfunctional Dialysis Fistula or Graft with Resveratrol-Excipient and Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Improves Primary Patency Rates Compared to Plain Angioplasty Alone.

In this prospective randomized single-blinded study (reg. ISRCTN11414306), 76 patients with a dysfunctional dialysis fistula or graft due to a single de novo or recurrent stenosis in the access circuit were randomized to receive either conventional PTA (POBA) as a standard of care ( = 38) or PTA + adjunctive PTA with a drug-coated (paclitaxel-resveratrol matrix) SeQuent Please OTW balloon ( = 38, DCB). Patients were scheduled for follow-up PTA at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.

Treatment of failing arterio-venous dialysis graft by angioplasty, stent, and stent graft: Two-years analysis of patency rates and cost-effectiveness.

The objective of this prospective randomized single-center study was to compare primary and secondary patency rates, number of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) interventions and cost-effectiveness among PTA, deployment of a stent, or a stent graft in the treatment of failing arteriovenous dialysis grafts (AVG) due to restenosis in the venous anastomosis or the outflow vein. Altogether 60 patients with failing AVG and restenosis in the venous anastomosis or the outflow vein were randomly assigned to either PTA, placement of a stent (E-Luminexx) or stent graft (Fluency Plus). After the procedure, patients with stent or stent graft received dual antiplatelet therapy for the next three months.

The predictive value of computed tomography in the detection of reflux esophagitis in patients undergoing upper endoscopy.

Background: Reflux esophagitis (RE) may mimic symptoms requiring cross-sectional imaging.

Methods: From 565 patients who had CT and esophagogastroduodenoscopy within four days apart, CT scans of 72 patients with RE confirmed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy and 108 matched patients without RE were evaluated for distal esophageal wall characteristics.

Results: In RE patients the distal esophageal wall thickness was greater (5.