Result of angioplasty of brescia-cimino haemodialysis fistulae: medium-term follow-up.

AIM

To determine the results of transluminal angioplasty in patients with Brescia-Cimino arteriovenous fistulae.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-one patients underwent transluminal angioplasty of 36 stenotic lesions related to Brescia-Cimino arteriovenous fistulae over a 5-year period. The lesions treated were characterized by review of pre-angioplasty fistulograms. Medical and radiological records were reviewed to assess medium-term patency of each patient's fistula.

RESULTS

Angioplasty was performed successfully in 28 out of 31 patients initially (90% technical success rate). Duration of follow-up for the 31 patients ranged from 4 to 65 months (median = 34 months). At 6 months, seven patients required further surgical or endovascular intervention (18 patients remained event-free) and at 1 year, 10 patients required further endovascular or surgical intervention (14 patients remained event-free). Life-table analysis revealed primary patency rates of 77%, 64% and 39% at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, respectively. At 6 months and 1 year, four and five patients, respectively, required surgical revision or closure of fistula. Secondary patency rates were 85%, 81% and 65% at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, respectively. All patients with a primary patency at 2 years remained event-free during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Transluminal angioplasty is an effective treatment for stenoses developed in relation to Brescia-Cimino haemodialysis fistulae. Further endovascular procedures may be required, especially in the first 24 months, to preserve patency. These techniques extend the lifetime of fistulae, thereby preserving proximal venous access sites for future use. Our result is in broad agreement with results from other series.