Percutaneous Transanastomotic Stent Graft Deployment to Salvage Dysfunctional Native Forearm Radiocephalic Fistulae: Feasibility and Primary Patency at 12 Months

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PurposeTo evaluate feasibility and efficacy of transanastomotic self-expandable polytetrafluoroethylene stent graft placement for salvage of radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulae (RCAVFs). Materials and MethodsFrom 2008 to 2016, 26 patients (21 male; age, 38–80 y) with dysfunctional RCAVFs for juxtaanastomotic lesions that were unresponsive to angioplasty underwent transanastomotic stent graft placement. Stenotic and thrombotic lesions were included. All were deemed unsuitable for surgical revision. Patency rates were calculated per Kaplan–Meier method. A Cox analysis was used to identify influencing factors. ResultsThirty-two stent grafts (6 patients had 2 stents) were deployed. Anatomic and clinical success were achieved in all patients; no major complications occurred. Mechanical and/or pharmacologic thrombolysis was performed in 6 cases before stent graft deployment. During follow-up (median, 34.7 mo; range, 1.9–102.7 mo), 17 repeat interventions were required in 10 patients (43 procedures overall), for an endovascular intervention rate of 0.27 per year. At 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, primary patency (PP) rates were 96% ± 4 (95% CI, 75%–99%), 83% ± 7 (95% CI, 61%–93%), 78% ± 8 (95% CI, 55%–90%), and 69% ± 10 (95% CI, 46%–84%). The corresponding assisted PP rates were 96% ± 4 (95% CI, 76%–99%), 96% ± 4 (95% CI, 76%–99%), 92% ± 5 (95% CI, 71%–98%), and 82% ± 8 (95% CI, 60%–93%). Five AVFs were ultimately abandoned. Per Cox analysis, arterial diameter ≥ 4 mm was associated with better PP (P = .032). ConclusionsTransanastomotic stent graft placement for RCAVF salvage is feasible and safe, providing patency rates comparable with historical endovascular and surgical data. Its role should be evaluated in larger studies.