Endovascular stent-graft treatment for graft-vein anastomotic stenosis in haemodialysis patients with arteriovenous grafts

Abstract. Background: In this study, we investigated the patency of endovascular stent grafts in haemodialysis patients with arteriovenous grafts, the modes of patency loss, and the risk factors for re-intervention. Patients and methods: Haemodialysis patients with graft-vein anastomotic stenosis of their arteriovenous grafts who were treated with endovascular stent-grafts between 2008 and 2013 were entered into this retrospective study. Primary and secondary patency, modes of patency loss, and risk factors for intervention were recorded. Results: Cumulative circuit primary patency rates decreased from 40.0 % at 6 months to 7.3 % at 24 months. Cumulative target lesion primary patency rates decreased from 72.1 % at 6 months to 22.0 % at 24 months. Cumulative secondary patency rates decreased from 81.3 % at 12 months to 31.6 % at 36 months. Patients with a history of cerebrovascular accident had a significantly higher risk of secondary patency loss, and graft puncture site stenosis jeopardised the results of stent-graft treatment. Conclusions: Our data can help to improve outcomes in haemodialysis patients treated with stent-grafts for venous anastomosis of an arteriovenous graft.