Radial Artery Approach to Salvage Nonmaturing Radiocephalic Arteriovenous Fistulas

To evaluate the usefulness of an approach through the radial artery distal to the arteriovenous anastomosis for salvaging nonmaturing radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas. Procedures that fulfilled the following criteria were retrospectively reviewed: (1) autogenous radiocephalic fistulas, (2) fistulas less than 3 months old, (3) distal radial artery approach for salvage. From 2005 to 2011, a total of 51 patients fulfilling the above criteria were enrolled. Outcome variables were obtained from angiographic, clinical and hemodialysis records, including the success, complication, and primary and secondary patency rates. The overall anatomical and clinical success rates for the distal radial artery approach were 96 and 94 %, respectively. The average procedure time was 36 ± 19 min. Six patients (12 %) experienced minor complications as a result of extravasations. No arterial complication or puncture site complication was noted. The postinterventional 6-month primary patency rate was 51 %, and the 6-month secondary patency rate was 90 %. When the patients were divided into a stenosed group (20 patients) and an occluded group (31 patients), there were no differences in the success rate, complication rate, or primary and secondary patency rates. An approach through the radial artery distal to the arteriovenous anastomosis is an effective and safe alternative for the salvage of nonmaturing radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas, even for occluded fistulas.