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Purpose: To investigate the potential added value of paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) angioplasty to reduce fistula dysfunction related to recurrent stenoses in patients undergoing hemodialysis., Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized study was conducted in 3 dialysis referral centers. From January 2013 to October 2015, 64 patients (22 female, 42 male) with dysfunctional autologous dialysis fistulae were randomized to undergo conventional percutaneous balloon angioplasty (n = 31) or PCB angioplasty (n = 33). Procedural and postprocedural data were assessed. Primary patency of the fistula was evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months following the procedure. Statistical analysis was based on the Fisher exact test and independent t test., Results: There were no procedural or postprocedural complications. After 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up, primary patency rates after PCB angioplasty and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) were 88% and 80% (P = .43), 67% and 65% (P = .76), and 42% and 39% (P = .95), respectively., Conclusions: Although primary patency rates after PCB angioplasty in autologous dialysis fistulae at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up are slightly better than those after PTA, the difference is not statistically significant., (Copyright © 2017 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Renal transplantation is the choice treatment of end-stage renal disease. When it is not indicated or not immediately feasible, hemodialysis must be performed, preferably via a native arteriovenous fistula in the forearm. A pre-anastomotic occlusion of this type of fistula is often accompanied by a thrombosis of its draining vein. In some instances, the venous segment may remain permeable thanks to the development of arterial collateral pathways and may even allow efficient dialysis without any clinical syndrome of distal steal. We present the echo-Doppler, magnetic and angiographic characteristics of three of these collateralized shunts that have remained functional, in one of the cases following a percutaneous dilation.

Despite being time-consuming and observer-dependent, CDUS is a method of choice for performing and controlling dialysis shunts. It contributes to increasing the number of native AVFs and enables early detection of lesions therefore allowing quick percutaneous or surgical therapy.