Abstract:The role of the stent graft is emerging in the management of arteriovenous dialysis access. Physicians are incorporating this device in the management of three distinct problems-vein-graft anastomotic stenosis, pseudoaneurysm formation, and cephalic arch stenosis-with varying degrees of success. Indeed, a recent randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the role of angioplasty plus stent graft versus angioplasty alone for the management of stenosis at the vein-graft anastomosis led to the approval of the stent … Show more
“…Moreover, the frequency of AVG thrombosis did not differ between the two groups. Given the high expense of stent grafts (approximately $2000 each) and their unproven benefit in terms of preventing AVG thrombosis, their routine deployment to treat AVG stenosis cannot be justified at this time (26). Two larger ongoing RCTs, RENOVA (flair endovascular stent graft post-approval trial) and REVISE (Gore Viabahn endoprosthesis versus percutaneous transluminal angioplasty to revise arteriovenous grafts at the venous anastomosis in hemodialysis patients) are evaluating two different brands of stent grafts to assess whether they improve AVG patency after angioplasty of a venous anastomotic stenosis.…”
Section: Why Surveillance With Preemptive Angioplasty Does Not Prevenmentioning
Arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) are prone to frequent thrombosis that is superimposed on underlying hemodynamically significant stenosis, most commonly at the graft-vein anastomosis. There has been great interest in detecting AVG stenosis in a timely fashion and performing preemptive angioplasty, in the belief that this will prevent AVG thrombosis. Three surveillance methods (static dialysis venous pressure, flow monitoring, and duplex ultrasound) can detect AVG stenosis. Whereas observational studies have reported that surveillance with preemptive angioplasty substantially reduces AVG thrombosis, randomized clinical trials have failed to confirm such a benefit. There is a high frequency of early AVG restenosis after angioplasty caused by aggressive neointimal hyperplasia resulting from vascular injury. Stent grafts prevent AVG restenosis better than balloon angioplasty, but they do not prevent AVG thrombosis. Several pharmacologic interventions to prevent AVG failure have been evaluated in randomized clinical trials. Anticoagulation or aspirin plus clopidogrel do not prevent AVG thrombosis, but increase hemorrhagic events. Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia does not prevent AVG thrombosis. Dipyridamole plus aspirin modestly decreases AVG stenosis or thrombosis. Fish oil substantially decreases the frequency of AVG stenosis and thrombosis. In patients who have exhausted all options for vascular access in the upper extremities, thigh AVGs are a superior option to tunneled internal jugular vein central vein catheters (CVCs). An immediate-use AVG is a reasonable option in patients with recurrent CVC dysfunction or infection. Tunneled femoral CVCs have much worse survival than internal jugular CVCs.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 10: 2255-2262, 2015. doi: 10.2215/CJN.00190115
Patient PresentationThe following vignette illustrates the numerous challenges in optimizing arteriovenous graft (AVG) patency in hemodialysis patients. A 28-year-old woman initiated peritoneal dialysis when she developed ESRD because of focal glomerular sclerosis. She was hospitalized with an intracerebral bleed caused by a ruptured aneurysm 1.5 years later. A ventricular-peritoneal shunt was placed to treat hydrocephalus, and she was anticoagulated with warfarin to keep the shunt patent. Because of residual left-sided weakness and inadequate family support, she was no longer able to perform peritoneal dialysis. A tunneled central vein catheter (CVC) was placed in the right internal jugular vein, and she was switched to maintenance hemodialysis. A left forearm arteriovenous fistula (AVF) clotted 2 weeks after its creation. A subsequent looped left upper-arm AVG was successfully cannulated 5 weeks after its creation. It clotted four times during the ensuing 6 months and was treated each time by an interventional radiologist or nephrologist, who performed percutaneous thrombectomy, in conjunction with angioplasty of a venous anastomotic stenosis. The patient resumed hemodialysis with an internal jugular CVC when the AVG failed. A right radiocephalic AV...
“…Moreover, the frequency of AVG thrombosis did not differ between the two groups. Given the high expense of stent grafts (approximately $2000 each) and their unproven benefit in terms of preventing AVG thrombosis, their routine deployment to treat AVG stenosis cannot be justified at this time (26). Two larger ongoing RCTs, RENOVA (flair endovascular stent graft post-approval trial) and REVISE (Gore Viabahn endoprosthesis versus percutaneous transluminal angioplasty to revise arteriovenous grafts at the venous anastomosis in hemodialysis patients) are evaluating two different brands of stent grafts to assess whether they improve AVG patency after angioplasty of a venous anastomotic stenosis.…”
Section: Why Surveillance With Preemptive Angioplasty Does Not Prevenmentioning
Arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) are prone to frequent thrombosis that is superimposed on underlying hemodynamically significant stenosis, most commonly at the graft-vein anastomosis. There has been great interest in detecting AVG stenosis in a timely fashion and performing preemptive angioplasty, in the belief that this will prevent AVG thrombosis. Three surveillance methods (static dialysis venous pressure, flow monitoring, and duplex ultrasound) can detect AVG stenosis. Whereas observational studies have reported that surveillance with preemptive angioplasty substantially reduces AVG thrombosis, randomized clinical trials have failed to confirm such a benefit. There is a high frequency of early AVG restenosis after angioplasty caused by aggressive neointimal hyperplasia resulting from vascular injury. Stent grafts prevent AVG restenosis better than balloon angioplasty, but they do not prevent AVG thrombosis. Several pharmacologic interventions to prevent AVG failure have been evaluated in randomized clinical trials. Anticoagulation or aspirin plus clopidogrel do not prevent AVG thrombosis, but increase hemorrhagic events. Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia does not prevent AVG thrombosis. Dipyridamole plus aspirin modestly decreases AVG stenosis or thrombosis. Fish oil substantially decreases the frequency of AVG stenosis and thrombosis. In patients who have exhausted all options for vascular access in the upper extremities, thigh AVGs are a superior option to tunneled internal jugular vein central vein catheters (CVCs). An immediate-use AVG is a reasonable option in patients with recurrent CVC dysfunction or infection. Tunneled femoral CVCs have much worse survival than internal jugular CVCs.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 10: 2255-2262, 2015. doi: 10.2215/CJN.00190115
Patient PresentationThe following vignette illustrates the numerous challenges in optimizing arteriovenous graft (AVG) patency in hemodialysis patients. A 28-year-old woman initiated peritoneal dialysis when she developed ESRD because of focal glomerular sclerosis. She was hospitalized with an intracerebral bleed caused by a ruptured aneurysm 1.5 years later. A ventricular-peritoneal shunt was placed to treat hydrocephalus, and she was anticoagulated with warfarin to keep the shunt patent. Because of residual left-sided weakness and inadequate family support, she was no longer able to perform peritoneal dialysis. A tunneled central vein catheter (CVC) was placed in the right internal jugular vein, and she was switched to maintenance hemodialysis. A left forearm arteriovenous fistula (AVF) clotted 2 weeks after its creation. A subsequent looped left upper-arm AVG was successfully cannulated 5 weeks after its creation. It clotted four times during the ensuing 6 months and was treated each time by an interventional radiologist or nephrologist, who performed percutaneous thrombectomy, in conjunction with angioplasty of a venous anastomotic stenosis. The patient resumed hemodialysis with an internal jugular CVC when the AVG failed. A right radiocephalic AV...
“…25 The other common cause for stent fracture is when placed across joints especially across the elbow or the shoulder joint. 27,28 When the stents thrombose in peripheral lesions they can present with clotted dialysis access while if they thrombosis when placed in central lesions based on the collateral supply could present with acute central vein occlusion syndrome. 17,26 Acute stent thrombosis This can present acutely especially with stents are placed across arterio-venous junctions in AVG or when placed in central veins.…”
Recurrent stenosis due to neo-intimal hyperplasia leads to loss of patency in an established hemodialysis access. The current treatment strategy to maintain patency involves percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with or without stent placement. There are several key points that an interventionalist needs to weigh before deciding to place a stent. These include appropriateness of stent placement, the long term consequences, the type of stent to be deployed, the size of stent and finally the impact on cannulation during dialysis. A general nephrologist needs to be aware of the various benefits and pitfalls of stent placement. The current review provides basic information that will educate the dialysis provider about stents and its use in treating dysfunctional hemodialysis access using commonly encountered clinical scenarios.
“…Cephalic arch stenosis (CAS) is a common cause of brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) dysfunction 20 . The use of various types of stents as a treatment of cephalic arch stenosis has been reported 21 .…”
Section: Stent Use In Special Conditionsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Secondary fistulas constitute an excellent option for patients with failing AVGs with excellent primary and secondary patency rates 32 . The high cost of stents is another factor of consideration, raising concern into whether the benefits obtained by placing stents at VGA stenosis sites outweigh the costs associated with such treatment 20 . Careful thought should be given to the option of creating a secondary AVF as an alternative treatment to placing a stent at a VGA stenosis site.…”
Section: Stent Use In Special Conditionsmentioning
Vascular stenosis is most often the culprit behind hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction, and while percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) remains the gold standard treatment for vascular stenosis, over the past decade the use of stents as a treatment option has been on the rise. Aside from the two FDA approved stent-grafts for the treatment of venous graft anastomosis (VGA) stenosis, use of all other stents in vascular access dysfunction is off-label. KDOQI recommends limiting stent use to specific conditions, such as elastic lesions and recurrent stenosis; otherwise, additional adapted indications are in procedure-related complications, such as grade 2 and 3 hematomas. Published reports have shown the potential use of stents in a variety of conditions leading to vascular access dysfunction; such as VGA stenosis, cephalic arch stenosis, central venous stenosis, dialysis access aneurysmal elimination, Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device induced stenosis, and thrombosed arteriovenous grafts (AVG). While further research is needed for many of these conditions, evidence for recommendations has been clear in some; for instance, we know now that stents should be avoided along cannulations sites and should not be used in eliminating dialysis access aneurysms.
In this review article, we evaluate the available evidence for the use of stents in each of the aforementioned conditions leading to hemodialysis vascular access dysfunctions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.