Early results of percutaneous arteriovenous fistula creation with the Ellipsys Vascular Access System.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed our initial experience creating a percutaneous arteriovenous fistula (pAVF) using a thermal resistance anastomosis device with proximal radial artery inflow. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent a pAVF creation procedure between May 2017 and October 2017. Primary end points of the study were technical success, patency by Doppler ultrasound examination or angiography, flow levels achieved, time to first use, and pAVF-related complications. RESULTS: A pAVF was attempted in 34 patients with technical success in 33 individuals (97%). Patency of the pAVF was 94%. Mean access flow was 946 mL/min (brachial artery measurement) at the latest follow-up visit (53-229 days; average, 141 days). At 6 weeks, all fistulas have been used or were ready for dialysis by clinical examination or ultrasound examination. Only one patient required superficialization of the upper arm cephalic vein by lipectomy. There were no adverse events related to the pAVF creation or use, nor was there need for further interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Successful pAVFs with proximal radial artery inflow were created with excellent initial results regarding technical success, patency, and safety. Advantages include avoidance of a surgical incision, short procedure times, good acceptance by patients, prompt access maturation, moderate flow, and low-pressure access, with possible reduction of risk for ischemic complications. Avoidance of vessel manipulation and side branch ligation might reduce risk of thrombosis and improve long-term patency and reduce need for further interventions. These early findings need to be confirmed in larger and longer follow-up studies.

A new technique for reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation with saphenous vein panel graft.

A 60-year-old male patient presented with a false aneurysm of the common iliac artery and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus septicemia complicating previously placed kissing covered stents of the aortic bifurcation. We removed the prosthetic material and repaired the aortic bifurcation with a composite saphenous vein panel graft. To our knowledge, this technique is presented for the first time in the literature.

Endovascular management of transplant renal artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Most clinicians regard angioplasty with or without stent placement to be the treatment of choice for transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS). However, published results regarding its effectiveness are heterogeneous. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficiency of TRAS endovascular therapy. METHODS: All cases of TRAS admitted for treatment in our unit from January 2009 to December 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The primary end point was the stenosis-free primary transplant renal artery patency. Secondary end points were freedom from reintervention, graft survival, postoperative serum creatinine level, blood pressure evolution, and the number of antihypertensive drugs pre- and postprocedure. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients (10 men, 7 women) presenting with TRAS were referred to our institution. During the early post-transplantation process (<15 days), 35.2% of patients presented. The median time to presentation was 40 days. The predominant presentation was graft function alteration (82.3%). Percutaneous balloon angioplasty was performed in five patients (29.4%), while stenting was performed in the remaining 12 patients (70.6%). The stenosis-free primary patency rate and freedom from reintervention rate were 76.5% and 88.2%, respectively. The median follow-up was 19.6 months with 88.2% graft survival. There were no mortalities throughout the follow-up period. Serum creatinine levels decreased significantly from 186 µmol/L (range, 148-310 µmol/L) preoperatively to 160 µmol/L (range, 127-236 µmol/L at discharge (P = .0036). The glomerular filtration rates increased from 32.1 mL/min (range, 21.4-45.8 mL/min) to 41.7 mL/min (range, 27.5-52.4 mL/min; P = .004). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure varied from 140 mm Hg (range, 137-157 mm Hg) and 75 mm Hg (range, 70-80 mm Hg), to 135 mm Hg (range, 130-147 mm Hg and 80 mm Hg (range, 73-80 mm Hg), respectively (P = .11 and P = .36). The preoperative number of antihypertensive medications was 2 (range, 1-3) and remained unchanged (P = .33). CONCLUSIONS: The endovascular management of TRAS is safe and presents a high rate of technical success with low morbidity. Its impact on serum creatinine levels is significant in our experience. However, the blood pressure items do not seem to improve postoperatively.

De novo periaortic fibrosis after endovascular aortic repair.

We report a case of a 63-year-old man presenting with abdominal pain and hydronephrosis secondary to periaortic fibrosis (PAF) 8 months after an endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) using a woven polyester bifurcated graft. De novo delayed PAF after open repair is rare and even more infrequent after EVAR. All 3 previously reported cases occurred after woven polyester grafts and no reported cases after polytetrafluorethylene grafts. Management included steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment and bilateral double J tube placement. Satisfactory results were obtained.

Long-term preservation of native arteriovenous dialysis fistulas.

Preservation of native arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in the long term can be technically challenging. Various anatomic or functional problems can occur and multiple open and/or endovascular interventions may be required for extended preservation of native accesses. In this report, we review vascular access maintenance in a 72-year-old woman during a 5-year period. Multiple complications of her native radiocephalic AVF included recurrent occlusions, a central venous stent fracture and symptomatic venous outflow stenosis. We present this case to illustrate the various techniques and combination of approaches used in the long-term preservation of a native AVF.

Tagliatelle technique for arteriovenous fistula creation using a great saphenous vein semipanel graft.

Lower limb arteriovenous (AV) access creation can be attempted in patients where upper limb options are exhausted. Utilization of the great saphenous vein as a conduit for AV access has been limited due to its small diameter and resistance to dilatation. Lower limb AV fistulas today are mostly either prosthetic grafts with high rates of infection and thrombosis or transposition of the femoral vein that can lead to limb-threatening venous hypertension. In this report, we describe an optimized technique for reconstruction of the great saphenous vein to serve as a dialysis conduit. This semipanel graft reconstruction effectively doubles the diameter of the conduit without disruption of the deep venous circulation and also mitigates the requirement for a venovenous anastomosis.

Three new techniques for creation of a steerable sheath, a 4F snare, and bidirectional sheath inversion using existing endovascular materials.

We present three novel techniques for creation of (1) a steerable sheath, (2) a 4F snare device, and (3) dual anterograde and retrograde double-wire percutaneous transluminal angioplasty access technique using a single femoral puncture. These techniques were conceived and bench-tested in our institution, allowing the utilization of inexpensive equipment for complicated endovascular procedures. They offer (1) controlled navigation, no-touch vessel cannulation and cannulation of angulated vessels, contralateral limb of stent grafts, fenestrations, and branches; (2) a low-profile (4F external diameter) modifiable snare with the ability to expand to the size of an entire aneurysm and the ability to undo the snare in case of blockage with other endovascular material; and (3) in situ sheath inversion for concomitant anterograde and retrograde percutaneous angioplasty with a single femoral puncture.

Carotid-brachial bypass and simultaneous radiocephalic fistula for a patient on hemodialysis.

Patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis often suffer from obliterative arterial disease, which may lead to hand ischemia and/or access failure. We present the case of a 54-year-old female patient with multiple failures in obtaining vascular access. Computed tomography angiogram revealed a long occlusion of the axillary artery. Vein mapping through duplex scanning demonstrated a suitable cephalic vein in the left forearm. A left carotid-brachial bypass was performed with simultaneous radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula formation. Immediate results were excellent, and the postoperative course was uneventful. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a combined approach.

Upper arm basilic vein elevation as a solution for forearm ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistulae with cannulation problems.

BACKGROUND: Ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula is an alternative option when a radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula is not feasible. We review our technique of basilic vein transposition in the upper arm for difficult to puncture forearm ulnar-basilic non-transposed arteriovenous fistulae. TECHNICAL NOTE: Three patients were referred for forearm ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistulae with difficult cannulation where the forearm basilic vein was left in situ (non-transposed). Surgeon performed ultrasound examination confirmed a patent arteriovenous fistula with adequate diameter and flow, draining to the basilic vein in the forearm and into the upper arm. Recurrent new and resolving hematomas were present surrounding the forearm basilic vein resulting from difficult cannulation issues and problems maintaining needle position due the posterior-medial ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula position and mobility of the non-transposed forearm basilic vein. A basilic vein transposition elevation procedure was performed in the upper arm starting at the level of the elbow to a few centimeters below the axilla. Branches of the dilated basilic vein were ligated, the median cutaneous nerve was preserved, and the vein was elevated from its native position to a superficial and anterior location. Although difficult, dialysis access had been continued in the forearm during a brief period and none required catheter placement. Reliable dialysis access was successfully initiated using the newly transposed basilic vein in the upper arm 3-4 weeks after the procedure, maintaining arterial inflow based on the original ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula anastomosis at the wrist. None of the patients required further interventions with follow-up of 8, 15, and 22 months.

Pseudo-aneurysm caused from banding failure.

BACKGROUND: To present a case of banding failure with vessel wall erosion and pseudo-aneurysm creation caused by the suture. CASE REPORT: A 75-year-old male patient was operated for a high-flow fistula (>2 L/min). This was overall the third time that the patient was operated for the same indication since he started dialysis 5 years ago. Standard banding technique with perioperative flow measurements was used, and three separate Prolene sutures tied over 5 and 4.5 mm probes to achieve flow reduction. The operation was successful and first few weeks were uneventful. However, 5-6 weeks postoperatively, the patient felt locally an acute pain that lasted only few seconds and a voluminous aneurysm occurred progressively within the next few weeks. He was observed 2 months after the first operation where a recurrent high-flow fistula was diagnosed and ultrasound examination revealed that the sutures used for banding were into the vessel lumen while a pseudo-aneurysm had occurred at the same level. The patient was re-operated for excision of the aneurysm and flow reduction with tapering of the anastomosis. CONCLUSION: Under certain conditions, the suture used for banding may erode through the vessel wall and get into the lumen. This will result in recurrence of a high-flow fistula. While this has been previously described, the phenomenon was otherwise uneventful. In contrary, in the case presented herein, a potentially threatening pseudo-aneurysm has occurred.

Resection of puncture site necrosis over an arteriovenous fistula: Endoclamp use for preservation of cannulation sites.

Skin necrosis overlying an arteriovenous fistula at the cannulation site is a common and potentially life-threatening problem, often associated with underlying aneurysm formation. Arteriovenous fistula-skin necrosis generally requires resection of surrounding skin margins and the underlying aneurysmal vessel wall, allowing repair with healthy tissue of the arteriovenous fistula in addition to closure of soft tissue and skin. In patients with insufficient fistula length, salvage of these arteriovenous fistulas may result in difficult or insurmountable cannulation issues leading to attempts at one-needle cannulation dialysis or, most often, catheter placement. Pre-existing stents or extensive calcification may add to the technical challenge of gaining proximal and/or distal control. We describe our technique for dealing with such arteriovenous fistula-skin necrosis lesions utilizing endo-occlusion with an angioplasty balloon for vascular control, allowing a limited incision and tissue resection with preservation of arteriovenous fistula cannulation length.

Drug eluting balloon angioplasty for assisted maturation of failing fistulae.

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience of balloon-assisted maturation with drug-eluting balloon dilation in patients with recurrent failing arteriovenous fistulae. CASE SERIES: Three patients (all males, mean age 71 years) with a complex history of failed attempts at native fistula creation underwent surgical creation of arteriovenous fistulae. Two patients had a two-stage brachio-brachial fistula and 1 had a brachio-cephalic fistula that also required subsequent elevation. After a few weeks of preserved patency with a thrill detected clinically, all patients had a gradual deterioration of flow manifested with loss of thrill and multiple severely stenotic lesions of neo-intimal hyperplasia seen on duplex ultrasound. All 3 non-maturing native arteriovenous fistulae had 1 or more angioplasties with regular balloons that were initially successful; however, they rapidly deteriorated with a loss of thrill and a recurrence of multiple stenosis. Drug-eluting balloon dilation was used subsequently as a last resort to save these failing fistulae. All procedures were successful with the preservation of patency and adequate fistula flow (>600 mL/min) during the follow-up period (4-8 months, mean 6 months), and all patients received successful dialysis with 2-needle cannulation of their fistulae. There were no adverse events during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-eluting balloon angioplasty was to salvage nonmaturing fistulae with durable results in complex patients where conventional treatment had previously failed. Drug-eluting balloons may provide a useful treatment option for patients prone to multiple access failures due accelerated neo-intimal hyperplasia.

Safety and efficiency of ultrasound-guided intermediate cervical plexus block for carotid surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Since stroke and myocardial ischaemia are major causes of perioperative morbidity and mortality associated with carotid endarterectomy, monitoring the brain and ensuring the best haemodynamic stability are important goals of the management. As regional anaesthesia was reported to improve haemodynamic stability during carotid endarterectomy (CEA), we conducted a prospective observational study on the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided intermediate cervical plexus blocks (CPB), with early (immediate postoperative) and mid-term (day 30) outcomes in awake patients undergoing CEA. METHODS: After the ethics committee approval, 50 patients undergoing a carotid endarterectomy with CPB from April 2011 to May 2013 were included. Anaesthesia and surgical dissection parameters, early complications and haemodynamic stability were recorded, as well as neurologic and cardiac outcomes initially and one month later. RESULTS: Cervical space was easy to locate by ultrasound in 90% of the patients. The quality of anaesthesia and surgical dissection was good in 86 and 88% of patients, respectively. No conversion to GA was required, secondary to a lack of analgesia. Two patients (4%) had severe hypotension (<100mmHg). Three patients required a shunt after carotid clamping for loss of consciousness with a favourable neurological outcome. We observed one elevation of cTnI (0.95ng·ml(-1)) without ECG change and 1 death occurred after a postoperative haemorrhagic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: The present work reports our first 50 cases of intermediate CPB using ultrasound guidance. The results underline that this technique is easy to perform, safe and reliable, provided good surgical conditions with continuous intraoperative neurologic monitoring and stable haemodynamics are respected.

Radial nerve compression by a large cephalic vein aneurysm: case report.

A 43-year-old man had weakness of the extensor muscles in the right forearm and could not extend the right wrist. The apparent disorder was caused by radial nerve compression by a large aneurysm in the cephalic vein in the antecubital fossa. Surgical resection of the aneurysm resolved the symptoms. This exceedingly rare complication of venous aneurysm is discussed. Venous aneurysm should be included in the differential diagnosis of a subcutaneous mass, and diagnosis is best made with Duplex ultrasound scanning. Surgical excision is the appropriate treatment.

Endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy for upper limb hyperhidrosis: limited sympathectomy does not reduce postoperative compensatory sweating.

OBJECTIVE: Compensatory sweating is the most common and troublesome complication of thoracodorsal sympathectomy. Whether the magnitude of compensatory sweating is related to the extent of sympathectomy is unclear. We investigated the association between the extent of sympathectomy and the occurrence and severity of compensatory sweating after endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy for upper limb hyperhidrosis. METHODS: From September 1992 to June 2000, data from patients undergoing thoracoscopic sympathectomy to treat primary upper limb hyperhidrosis in our department were prospectively collected. Routine follow-up with clinical examination was performed at 1, 3, and 6 months for the first postoperative year and every year thereafter. Late follow-up (February 2001) was with a standardized questionnaire by mail or telephone concerning compensatory sweating and patient satisfaction. Associations between the extent of sympathectomy and the occurrence and severity of compensatory sweating were analyzed with logistic regression and adjusted for age, gender, and relevant confounding factors. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-eight sympathectomies were consecutively performed in 134 patients (99 female, 35 male; mean age, 27.8 +/- 6.7 years). In the 84 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis, eight underwent T1-T2 resection, four T1-T3 resection, eight T2-T3 resection, and 64 T2-T4 resection. In the 43 patients with palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis, eight underwent T1-T5 resection and 35 T2-T5 resection. The seven patients with isolated axillary hyperhidrosis underwent T3-T5 sympathectomy. No deaths occurred; one conversion for bleeding, one permanent Horner's syndrome, and six minor complications did occur. The initial cure rate was 99.2%. The initial satisfaction rate was 97%. The mean follow-up period was 44.3 months (range, 7 to 100 months), and complete follow-up was available in 132 patients (98.5%). Ninety-five patients (71.9%) had compensatory sweating develop. Seventy patients (53%) judged their compensatory sweating to be minor and intermittent, and 25 patients (19%) judged it severe (16% embarrassing, 3% disabling). On univariate and multivariate analysis, the extent of denervation was not associated with the occurrence or the severity of compensatory sweating. The late satisfaction rate was 91.5%. Compensatory sweating and temporary relief/recurrence were equally considered to be the main causes of dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: Compensatory sweating was the most common long-term complication of thoracodorsal sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis. Its incidence and severity were not associated with the extent of sympathectomy.

Intravenous immunoglobulins and transplantation for patients with anti-HLA antibodies.

Transplantation for patients possessing allo-antibodies against HLA antigens can be delayed for years, and, once the graft has been transplanted, its survival is significantly reduced. We and others have shown that administration of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIgs) can induce a profound and sustained decrease in the titres of the anti-HLA antibodies, thus greatly enhancing the chances of those patients to obtain a transplant. In a number of cases, pre-treatment sera contained anti-donor antibodies that disappeared after IVIg administration. A similar approach, combining plasmapheresis and low-dose IVIgs, has shown similar results and has been successfully applied to ABO-incompatible transplantations. Patient and graft survival are excellent, despite a rather high rate of rejections, most notably humoral ones. These protocols thus demonstrate that the presence of anti-donor antibody, once an absolute contra-indication to transplantation, can, nowadays, be considered as an immunological hurdle that can be managed through appropriate immunological manipulation.