BACKGROUND

A well-established method to preserve failing synthetic arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) dialysis accesses is percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Nevertheless, the one-year primary patency rate following PTA is approximately 25%. This study was designed to compare the angiographic and clinical outcomes following stent-graft insertion versus angioplasty and/or bare metal stenting (BMS) of recurrently failing AVGs, because of anastomotic and/or venous outflow stenoses.

METHODS

Self-expanding stent-grafts were deployed for the treatment of failing AVGs in case of recurrent stenosis after treatment with conventional angioplasty or bail-out BMS. Regular angiographic follow-up was scheduled every two months the first six months and every three months thereafter. Data from previous procedures on the same treatment site were retrieved from our database. Primary patency was defined as a functioning graft with a patent treatment site without angiographic restenosis >50% and without any subsequent repeat procedures. Outcome data were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 35 patients previously treated with angioplasty and/or BMS for the treatment of recurrent significant AVG stenosis (group PTA), underwent stent-graft placement of the same treatment site (group SG). Of those, 20 patients had undergone angioplasty and 15 bail-out BMS. Mean lesion length was 4.8±1.7cm. Primary patency was significantly improved in the SG group (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 0.2 [95% CI= 0.11-0.36], P=.0001) by log-rank test. The estimated six and 12-month patency rates were 76.9% vs. 25.7%, and 61.4% vs. 8.6% for groups SG and PTA respectively, (P<.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Stent-graft placement significantly improves primary patency of anastomotic and venous outflow stenoses in recurrently failing prosthetic arteriovenous grafts.