ObjectiveTo explore the role of arteriovenous axillary loop graft (AVALG) on chest for establishing hemodialysis access in patients with chronic renal failure. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 12 patients with chronic renal failure who underwent an AVALG on chest for hemodialysis access between December 2010 and May 2014. There were 2 males and 10 females with an average age of 65.25 years (range, 46-75 years). The main causes were chronic glomerulonephritis in 6 cases, diabetic nephropathy in 4 cases, and both kidney resection because of urinary tract tumors in 2 cases. The disease duration was 2-12 years (mean, 6 years). The 12 patients all underwent 5-14 times (mean, 7 times) failed prior vascular accesses [arteriovenous fistula (AVF）and arteriovenous graft (AVG)] leading to exhaustion of venous access sites on the upper extremities. ResultsThe AVALG on chest were functionally useful for hemodialysis access, 2-3 times per week, and the blood flow was 250-350 mL/minute; the average time for the first dialysis was 48 days (range, 42-93 days). All patients were followed up 12-54 months (mean, 20.92 months). There was no death during perioperative period. The primary patency rates at 6 and 12 months were 91.7% and 83.3% respectively, and the secondary patency rates at 6 and 12 months were both 100%. After operation, infection (1 case), thrombosis (2 cases), bleeding (2 cases), and swollen (1 case) occurred, which were all cured after corresponding treatment. ConclusionAVALG on chest is a supplementary option for chronic renal failure patients with inadequate upper extremity venous access sites after repeat occlusion.
Objective To evaluate the effect of Fogarty balloon catheter embolectomy on arteriovenous graft thrombosis in hemodialysis patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 11 patients who underwent maintaining hemodialysis and arteriovenous graft thrombosis through Fogarty balloon catheter embolectomy between March 2010 and November 2014. The thrombosed graft was incised, and a 4 or 6 French catheter was placed in the venous and arterial limbs of the graft respectively. The Fogarty balloon was passed beyond the thrombus and pulled out after saline was infused into the balloon, and the thrombus was taken out. The procedure was considered unsuccessful if the blood flow was not re-established or if the graft re-thrombosed within hours. Results The treatment was successfully performed in all the patients. Of the 11 patients, 3 received balloon dilation due to stenosis of venous anastomosis, and 2 received angioplasty due to underlying arterial anastomosis lesion. After corresponding measures were taken, the thrombus of all the 11 patients were taken out, and blood flow was recovered. Two to seven days after surgery, low molecular weight heparin was used for anti-coagulation. The blood flow of all arteriovenous grafts reached over 250 mL/min. All the patients were followed up for 4 to 30 months. During the follow-up, the arteriovenous graft remained functional in 5 patients; 4 patients had re-thrombosis on day 2, 3, 25, and 71 after surgery respectively; one changed to undergo peritoneal dialysis due to rupture and infection of the graft, and one patient was transferred to another hospital in another area and was not followed up any longer. The therapy was successful in 81.8% of this group of patients. Conclusion Fogarty balloon catheter embolectomy is effective in restoring patency of thrombosed arteriovenous graft in hemodialysis patients, and more studies are needed.
ObjectiveTo explore the role of chest wall arteriovenous graft (CWAVG) for establishing hemodialysis access in patients with end-stage renal disease.MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 12 patients with end-stage renal disease who underwent CWAVG for establishing hemodialysis access between January 2014 and June 2015. There were 3 males and 9 females with an average age of 63.6 years (range, 54-82 years). The renal disease causes were chronic glomerulonephritis in 2 cases, hypertensive renal damage in 4 cases, diabetic nephropathy in 1 case, both kidney resection because of urinary tract tumors in 3 cases, and causes unknown in 2 cases. Hemodialysis time ranged from 1 to 144 months, with an average of 38.4 months. The 12 patients all underwent 1-14 times (mean, 4.2 times) anterior pathway failure in CWAVG, all of which were caused by repeated occlusion of dialysis pathway or poor vascular condition of upper extremity, resulting in the exhaustion of vascular pathway in upper extremity.ResultsAll patients were followed up 30-48 months (mean, 35.4 months). Two patients died, including 1 case of digestive tract hemorrhage, 1 case of heart failure. The other 10 CWAVGs were functionally useful for hemodialysis access about 6 weeks after operations. The primary patency rates at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months were 83.3%, 75.0%, 33.3%, 33.3%, and 16.7%, respectively, and the cumulative patency rates at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months were 83.3%, 75.0%, 50.0%, 33.3%, and 16.7%, respectively. Among 8 cases of CWAVG dysfunction, 6 cases had thrombosis, 1 case had seroma, and 1 case had vertebral artery stealing. Among them, 4 patients underwent hemodialysis using tunneled-cuffed catheter, 3 patients using fistula or graft on other limbs, and 1 patient was not treated with hemodialysis.ConclusionAlthough the long-term patency rate of CWAVG is yet to be further increased by improvement of treatment strategies, but it is still a supplementary option for end-stage renal disease patients with inadequate upper extremity venous access sites.