Arterial percutaneous angioplasty in upper limbs with vascular access devices for haemodialysis.

摘要

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the clinical context and effectiveness of arterial percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of arterio-venous fistulae in chronic haemodialysis patients. METHODS: Between May 1992 and June 1997, arterial PTA was performed in 33 patients with a total of 35 angioaccess devices of the upper limbs (18 arterio-venous fistulae and 17 PTFE grafts). Clinical indications for arterial PTA were unexplained acute thrombosis in 12 patients (34.3%), insufficient blood flow in 13 patients (37.1%), and severe limb ischaemia in 10 patients (28.6%), two of whom had skin ulcerations and one had severe neurological damage. Follow-up periods varied between 1 and 55 months (mean 15.5 months). RESULTS: PTA was attempted in 22 radial, 10 brachial and seven ulnar arteries. Angioplasty was successful (i.e. residual stenosis of