Validation of the Back-table Graft Arterial Anastomosis between the Splenic Artery and Superior Mesenteric Artery: Arterial Complications after a 21-year Single-center Experience of Pancreas Transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of the arterial splenomesenteric anastomosis (ASMA) vascular reconstruction technique in terms of arterial vascular complications in pancreas transplant (PT) recipients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The ASMA technique was first described in 1992 by Hospital Clínic Barcelona group. Regardless that the iliac Y-graft technique is the most frequently used worldwide, evidence of arterial complications and implications of using a different back-table reconstruction is conspicuously absent in the literature. METHODS: Descriptive review of 407 PTs performed at a single center (1999-2019) by analyzing the type of arterial reconstruction technique, focusing on ASMA. The endpoints were the management of arterial complications and long-term patient and graft survival. RESULTS: ASMA was performed in 376 cases (92.4%) and a Y-graft in 31 cases (7.6%). A total of 34 arterial complications (8.3%) were diagnosed. In the ASMA group (n=30, 7.9%) they comprised: 15 acute thrombosis; 4 stenosis; 1 pseudoaneurysm and 10 diverse chronic arterial complications while in the Y-graft group (n=4, 12.9%) 3 acute thrombosis and 1 chronic artery-duodenal fistula occurred. Graft salvage was achieved in 16 patients (53.3%) from the ASMA group and in 2 (50%) from the Y-graft. After a median follow-up of 129.2 (IQR 25-75%, 77.2 -182) months the overall graft and patient survival for the whole cohort at 1, 5, and 10 years was 86.7%, 79.5%, 70.5%, and 98.5%, 95.3%, 92.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ASMA proves to be a safe and more easily reproducible technique and should therefore be considered for first-line back-table reconstruction in the PT population.

Inferior Vena Cava Filters: Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines Recommendations, Retrieval Rates, and Filter Complications in a Tertiary Hospital.

The present study evaluated the adherence to guideline recommendations regarding the indication for inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) placement, retrieval rates, complications, thrombotic recurrences, and mortality. Patients in whom an IVCF was placed between 2015 and 2020 in a tertiary hospital were retrospectively included. We considered absolute indication of IVCF placement if all the guidelines evaluated agreed on the indication, relative indication if only some guidelines recommended it and without indication if none of the evaluated guidelines recommended it. From the 185 patients included; 47% had an absolute indication, 15% a relative indication, and 38% had no indication. Filter-associated complications and non-removal rates were 12.4% and 41%, respectively. Venous thromboembolism recurrence rate was 17.8%, being filter-associated complications (24.2 vs 9.8%, P = .02) and thrombosis of the inferior cava or iliac veins (12.1 vs 2.6%, P = .03) more frequent in this group. The mortality rate was 40%, with higher mortality risk in patients with co-existing cancer. Previous major bleeding, filter-associated complications, and mortality were associated with a major risk of non-removal. In conclusion, the adherence to guidelines regarding the indication of IVCF placement is still low and IVCF complications are not negligible. This fact is of special concern in the elderly, comorbid, and cancer patients.

New Insights into the Pathogenesis, Risk Factors, and Treatment of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Cirrhosis.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a frequent event in patients with cirrhosis regardless of etiology. Notwithstanding the commonality of the problem, the pathophysiology and risk factors for PVT in cirrhosis are largely unknown. The clinical impact of PVT in the natural history of cirrhosis is unclear, indications for PVT treatment are not well defined, and treatment recommendations are based on experts' opinion and consensus only. Therefore, this review aims to summarize current knowledge of mechanisms and risk factors for PVT development and assess the current evidence of PVT management, with a special focus on strategies of anticoagulation and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement.

Absorbable stents for treatment of benign biliary strictures: long-term follow-up in the prospective Spanish registry.

OBJECTIVES: Benign strictures of the bile duct may be difficult to treat endoscopically due to altered bowel anatomy. Furthermore, recurrence of stenosis and symptoms remains high. The aim of the Spanish Prospective Registry BiELLA study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of absorbable stents in the treatment of benign biliary strictures and their outcomes on the medium and long-term follow-up. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, observational, non-randomized study (the BiELLA study) was conducted from January 2014 to September 2018. One hundred fifty-nine patients with benign biliary strictures, mostly postsurgical, were enrolled for implantation of absorbable biliary stents in the 11 participating Spanish tertiary hospitals. The average patient follow-up was 45.4 ± 15.9 months (range, 12-60 months). The follow-up data included symptoms, biochemical parameters, and ultrasound images at 1, 6, and 12 months and then yearly for up to 60 months. RESULTS: The immediate technical and clinical success rates were 100%. In all patients, stent placement resulted in improvement of clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters. The primary mean patency for stent was 86.7, 79.6, and 78.9% at 12, 36, and 60 months, respectively (95% CI). Biliary restenosis and occlusion occurred in 40 (26.6%) patients. Of the 40 patients, 18 (12%) patients were treated with a second stent and 22 (14.6%) patients had operative repair of the recurrent strictures. There were no major complications associated with stent implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of an absorbable polydioxanone biliary stent is safe and effective for treatment of benign biliary strictures refractory to balloon dilatation or other biliary intervention. KEY POINTS: • Percutaneous implantation of biodegradable prostheses for the treatment of benign postsurgical biliary strictures is a safe and effective procedure. • More than 75% of the patients presented patency of the stented biliary tree at 5 years follow-up. • Absorbable stents improved clinical symptoms and signs (jaundice, itching, fever), and laboratory parameters in a few days after stent placement.

Diagnosis and staging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): current guidelines.

One of the key strategies to improve the prognosis of HCC, beside prevention, is to diagnose the tumor in early stages, when the patient is asymptomatic and the liver function is preserved, because in this clinical situation effective therapies with survival benefit can be applied. Imaging techniques are a key tool in the surveillance and diagnosis of HCC. Screening should be based in US every 6 months and non-invasive diagnostic criteria of HCC based on imaging findings on dynamic-MR and/or dynamic-CT have been validated and thus, accepted in clinical guidelines. The typical vascular pattern depicted by HCC on CT and or MRI consists on arterial enhancement, stronger than the surrounding liver (wash-in), and hypodensity or hyposignal intensity compared to the surrounding liver (wash-out) in the venous phase. This has a sensitivity of around 60% with a 96-100% specificity. Major improvements on liver imaging have been introduced in the latest years, adding functional information that can be quantified: the use of hepatobiliary contrast media for liver MRI, the inclusion of diffusion-weighted sequences in the standard protocols for liver MRI studies and new radiotracers for positron-emission tomography (PET). However, all them are still a matter of research prior to be incorporated in evidence based clinical decision making. This review summarizes the current knowledge about imaging techniques for the early diagnosis and staging of HCC, and it discusses the most relevant open questions.

Diffuse Renal Cortical Hemorrhage in the Setting of Subcapsular Hematoma: Diagnosis and Treatment with Embolization.

PURPOSE: To describe radiologic findings, embolization technique, and clinical outcomes in patients with renal subcapsular hematoma and diffuse cortical hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with renal subcapsular hematoma and diffuse cortical hemorrhage were reviewed. Nine of the 10 had undergone procedures (nephrostomy, n = 4; biopsy, n = 4; embolization of a cerebral aneurysm, n = 1) and 1 patient was receiving oral anticoagulation. Computed tomography (CT), angiography, and embolization of bleeding sites were performed in all patients. RESULTS: CT and angiography revealed subcapsular hematoma with diffuse cortical hemorrhage at the level of the interlobar and/or arcuate branches. Total embolization of intrarenal arterial branches was required in 3 patients. Partial embolization, which also resulted in permanent functional loss, was required in 4. The functional loss was likely caused by the embolization procedure and the underlying renal disease. In these 4 patients, renal failure was demonstrated by scintigraphy in 3 cases and based on the need to start chronic hemodialysis in 1 case. In the remaining three patients, embolization did not compromise renal function. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse cortical hemorrhage unrelated to the site of puncture may be seen in some cases of subcapsular hematoma. The cause is likely the laceration of transcortical capsular arteries secondary to enlargement of the subcapsular hematoma. In the present case series, embolization achieved hemorrhage control, but loss of renal function was observed in patients with underlying renal disease.

Endovascular Revascularization of Hemodialysis Thrombosed Grafts with the Hydrodynamic Thrombectomy Catheter. Our 7-Year Experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the hydrodynamic thrombectomy catheter (AngioJet DVX) in the salvage of thrombosed hemodialysis vascular grafts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was designed, including all patients with occluded arteriovenous grafts treated with the AngioJet system between 2007 and 2014 in our institution. Outcomes included technical success, clinical success, complications, and primary and secondary patencies. Procedural success was defined as angiographic confirmation of flow restoration, the presence of a pulsatile thrill along the graft, and successful resumption of at least one hemodialysis session. Primary and secondary patencies after first AVG thrombectomy were calculated with Kaplan-Meier curves. Cox regression was used to determine prognostic factors of primary patency after every thrombectomy episode. RESULTS: A total of 149 thrombectomies were performed in 68 grafts. After thrombectomy, endovascular treatment of one or more stenosis was performed in all cases. Technical success was 93% and clinical success was 86%. Complications occurred in 7 thrombectomies, most of them were minor except for one anastomosis rupture requiring surgery. Primary and secondary patencies were 52, 41, and 23 and 76, 68, and 57% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Independent prognostic factors of poor patency after every thrombectomy episode were the presence of residual thrombus (OR 1.831, P = 0.008) and time from last thrombosis (less than 1 month; and OR 7.116, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy with AngioJet is a safe technique with a high-clinical success rate. The presence of residual thrombus after thrombectomy and early re-occlusions are related to poorer results.

Nontumoral portal vein thrombosis in patients awaiting liver transplantation.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) occurs in approximately 2%-26% of the patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT) and is no longer an absolute contraindication for LT. Nearly half of PVT cases are accidentally found during the LT procedure. The most important risk factor for PVT development in cirrhosis may be the severity of liver disease and reduced portal blood flow. Whether other inherited or acquired coagulation disorders also play a role is not yet clear. The development of PVT may have no effect on the liver disease progression, especially when it is nonocclusive. PVT may not increase the risk of wait-list mortality, but it is a risk factor for poor early post-LT mortality. Anticoagulation and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) are 2 major treatment strategies for patients with PVT on the waiting list. The complete recanalization rate after anticoagulation is approximately 40%. The role of TIPS to maintain PV patency for LT as the primary indication has been reported, but the safety and efficacy should be further evaluated. PVT extension and degree may determine the surgical technique to be used during LT. If a "conventional" end-to-end portal anastomotic technique is used, there is not a major impact on post-LT survival. Post-LT PVT can significantly reduce both graft and patient survival after LT and can preclude future options for re-LT.

Trombosis portal asociada a lesión de la arteria hepática derecha durante una colecistectomía: indicación infrecuente de trasplante hepático urgente / Portal vein thrombosis associated with right hepatic artery injury during cholecystectomy: An uncommon indication for urgent liver transplantation

No disponible

Impact of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the study of hepatic artery hypoperfusion shortly after liver transplantation: contribution to the diagnosis of artery steal syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the absence of hepatic artery signal on Doppler ultrasound (DUS) in the immediate postoperative period after liver transplant. METHODS: This prospective study included 675 consecutive liver transplants. Patients without hepatic artery signal by DUS within 8 days post-transplant were studied with CEUS. If it remained undetectable, a thrombosis was suspected. In patent hepatic artery, a DUS was performed immediately after CEUS; if low resistance flow was detected, an arteriography was indicated. Patients with high resistance waveform underwent DUS+/CEUS follow-up. Arteriography was indicated when abnormal flow persisted for more than 5 days or liver dysfunction appeared. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were studied with CEUS. In 11 patients CEUS correctly diagnosed hepatic artery thrombosis. In two out of 23 non-occluded arteries, a low resistance flow lead to a diagnosis of stenosis/proximal thrombosis. Twenty-one patients had absence of diastolic flow, which normalized in the follow-up in 13 patients. In the remaining eight patients, splenic artery steal syndrome (ASS) was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: CEUS allows us to avoid invasive tests in the diagnostic work-up shortly after liver transplant. It identifies the hepatic artery thrombosis and points to a diagnosis of ASS. KEY POINTS: • CEUS is useful in the diagnostic work-up shortly after liver transplant • CEUS identifies the hepatic artery thrombosis with reliability • There is little information about DUS and CEUS findings in the ASS • DUS and CEUS offer functional information useful in the diagnosis of ASS.

Ruptured intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm in a patient with blunt thoracic trauma: diagnosis and management.

Intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm is an extremely unusual condition, with less than 10 reported cases to our knowledge. Most of them have been associated with surgical interventions or blunt thoracic trauma. The bleeding risk in this kind of lesions is considerable, the majority of them presenting as haemothorax. We present a case of an intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm detected after a blunt thoracic trauma in a patient with signs of acute bleeding. The identification of a small artery pseudoaneurysm as the cause of haemothorax requires knowledge of this possible aetiology as well as detailed attention to the CT technique. Embolisation is considered to be the first therapeutic method in the management of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm. To reduce the risk of failure, the anatomic features and adjacent vessels providing collateral branches must be studied and embolised if needed, with important attention to collateral blood supply arising from the musculophrenic and anterior intercostal arteries.

Tratamiento del síndrome de robo del acceso vascular mediante interposición yuxtaanastomótica de un segmento protésico / Treatment of vascular access-related steal syndrome by means of juxta-anastomotic vein interposition of a prosthetic graft segment

Objetivos: El síndrome de robo es una complicación grave del acceso vascular. Nuestro objetivo es presentar los resultados iniciales de un tratamiento simple y eficaz: la interposición de un segmento protésico en la vena yuxtaanastomótica. Métodos: Entre 2009 y 2012, 14 pacientes (57 % varones, edad media 71 años) con síndrome de robo severo por un acceso vascular nativo (grados II-IV), y tras un estudio clínico y ecográfico sistemático, y angiográfico selectivo, fueron tratados mediante la interposición de un segmento de prótesis tubular, politetrafluoroetileno (PTFE) de 6 mm de diámetro en la vena yuxtaanastomótica, más reparación selectiva de estenosis arterial mediante parche (2 casos) o ligadura de colaterales venosas no útiles (8 casos). Se utilizó anestesia local o regional y un régimen ambulatorio en todos los casos. Resultados: El éxito técnico fue del 100 %. El estudio ecográfico pre y posoperatorio mostró una reducción del flujo posoperatorio del acceso del 39 % y un aumento del flujo arterial radial del 477 %. Los síntomas isquémicos se resolvieron en 12 pacientes (86 %); los otros dos requirieron procedimientos adicionales por síntomas isquémicos persistentes. Ocurrió una ruptura venosa posoperatoria, que requirió una ligadura definitiva. Ningún caso sufrió amputaciones ni hubo pérdidas ni trombosis del acceso en el seguimiento. Las permeabilidades primaria y primaria asistida libres de nuevos síntomas isquémicos fueron del 78 % y del 78 % a los 12 meses, y del 62 % y del 78 % a los 24 meses. Conclusiones: La interposición de un segmento protésico yuxtaanastomótico es una técnica sencilla, rápida y eficaz en el tratamiento del síndrome de robo vascular, con resultados prometedores a dos años de seguimiento (AU)

Objective: Steal syndrome is a severe complication of vascular access. Our aim is to present the initial results of a simple and effective treatment: the interposition of a prosthetic segment in the juxta-anastomotic vein. Method: Between 2009 and 2012, 14 patients (57 % male, average age 71) with severe steal syndrome due to vascular access (stages II-IV), following a clinical and systematic echographic study and a selective angiographic study, were treated through the interposition of a 6 mm segment of PTFE in the juxta-anastomotic vein, in addition to selective patch repair of arterial stenosis (2 cases) or ligature of useless venous collaterals (8 cases). Local or regional anaesthesia was used and outpatient care was given in all cases. Results: There was 100 % technical success. The pre- and post-operative echographical study showed a reduction of post-operative access flow by 39 % and an increase of radial artery flow by 477 %. Ischaemic symptoms were resolved in 12 patients (86 %); the other two patients required additional procedures due to persistent ischaemic symptoms. There was a post-operative venous rupture, which required a definitive ligation. No patient suffered amputations, nor were there losses or access thrombosis during the follow-up. The primary and primary-assisted patencies free of new ischemic symptoms were 78 % and 78 % at 12 months, and 62 % and 78 % at 24 months. Conclusions: The interposition of a prosthetic segment in the juxta-anastomotic vein is a simple, quick and effective technique in the treatment of vascular steal syndrome, with promising results at the 2 year follow-up (AU)

Treatment of vascular access-related steal syndrome by means of juxta-anastomotic vein interposition of a prosthetic graft segment.

OBJECTIVE: Steal syndrome is a severe complication of vascular access. Our aim is to present the initial results of a simple and effective treatment: the interposition of a prosthetic segment in the juxta-anastomotic vein. METHOD: Between 2009 and 2012, 14 patients (57 % male, average age 71) with severe steal syndrome due to vascular access (stages II-IV), following a clinical and systematic echographic study and a selective angiographic study, were treated through the interposition of a 6 mm segment of PTFE in the juxta-anastomotic vein, in addition to selective patch repair of arterial stenosis (2 cases) or ligature of useless venous collaterals (8 cases). Local or regional anaesthesia was used and outpatient care was given in all cases. RESULTS: There was 100 % technical success. The pre- and post-operative echographical study showed a reduction of post-operative access flow by 39 % and an increase of radial artery flow by 477 %. Ischaemic symptoms were resolved in 12 patients (86 %); the other two patients required additional procedures due to persistent ischaemic symptoms. There was a post-operative venous rupture, which required a definitive ligation. No patient suffered amputations, nor were there losses or access thrombosis during the follow-up. The primary and primary-assisted patencies free of new ischemic symptoms were 78 % and 78 % at 12 months, and 62 % and 78 % at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: The interposition of a prosthetic segment in the juxta-anastomotic vein is a simple, quick and effective technique in the treatment of vascular steal syndrome, with promising results at the 2 year follow-up.

Observational study of surveillance based on the combination of online dialysance and thermodilution methods in hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistulas.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Online dialysance (Kt) and thermodilution (BTM-Qa) methods could be important components in vascular access monitoring programs. This study evaluated the efficiency of these two methods in reducing the thrombosis rate and access-related costs compared with a historic control group. METHODS: We studied 148 hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistulas (control group, n = 74) for 2 years. During the study period, the indications for vascular treatments were the Kt reduction ≥20% with respect to baseline values or Qa <500 ml/min (or a decrease in flow >20%). RESULTS: During the study period, we detected 16 cases of vascular dysfunction. The Kt value after vascular treatment was 71.1 liters (59 liters; p = 0.001) and BTM-Qa was 1,218.6 ml/min (519.7 ml/min; p = 0.001). Compared with the control group, the thrombosis rate was 0.027 versus 0.148 episodes/patient-year (p = 0.009) and the total access-related cost was EUR 22,293 versus 47,467 (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a combined monitoring program based on Kt and BTM-Qa represents an effective screening method that significantly reduces the thrombosis rate and economic costs of vascular treatments.

Management of gastric varices.

According to their location, gastric varices (GV) are classified as gastroesophageal varices and isolated gastric varices. This review will mainly focus on those GV located in the fundus of the stomach (isolated gastric varices 1 and gastroesophageal varices 2). The 1-year risk of GV bleeding has been reported to be around 10%-16%. Size of GV, presence of red signs, and the degree of liver dysfunction are independent predictors of bleeding. Limited data suggest that tissue adhesives, mainly cyanoacrylate (CA), may be effective and better than propranolol in preventing bleeding from GV. General management of acute GV bleeding must be similar to that of esophageal variceal bleeding, including prophylactic antibiotics, a careful replacement of volemia, and early administration of vasoactive drugs. Small sample-sized randomized controlled trials have shown that tissue adhesives are the therapy of choice for acute GV bleeding. In treatment failures, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is considered the treatment of choice. After initial hemostasis, repeated sessions with CA injections along with nonselective beta-blockers are recommended as secondary prophylaxis; whether CA is superior to TIPS in this scenario is not completely clear. Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) has been introduced as a new method to treat GV. BRTO is also effective and has the potential benefit of increasing portal hepatic blood flow and therefore may be an alternative for patients who may not tolerate TIPS. However, BRTO obliterates spontaneous portosystemic shunts, potentially aggravating portal hypertension and its related complications. The role of BRTO in the management of acute GV bleeding is promising but merits further evaluation.

Pancreas transplants venous graft thrombosis: endovascular thrombolysis for graft rescue.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous endovascular treatment in patients with pancreas venous graft thrombosis (PVGT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2001 and 2009, 206 pancreas transplants were performed at our institution. A retrospective review of pancreas graft recipients who underwent endovascular therapy for PVGT was performed. The study group included 17 patients (10 men, 7 women; mean age 38 years) with PVGT (<60 % [9 patients]; 30-60 % [8 patients]) 6.6 ± 5.7 days after grafting. The angiographic studies, type of endovascular procedure, endovascular procedural and postprocedural effectiveness, and patient and graft outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: In 16 of 17 cases (94 %), significant (87.5 %) or partial (12.5 %) lysis of thrombi was achieved. One patient had external compression of the portal vein due to a hematoma, which hindered mechanical removal of the thrombi. This patient required graft pancreatectomy for extensive areas of parenchymal necrosis 2 days after the endovascular procedure. No complications related to endovascular treatment were observed. Postprocedural bleeding episodes related to anticoagulation were observed in five patients. Patient and pancreas graft survival rates at 12 months were 94 and 76 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: Catheter-directed thrombectomy is an effective treatment for patients with PVGT. Percutaneous thrombectomy, followed by anticoagulation, appears to be an effective therapy to remove the thrombus and is associated with a low complication rate.

Aplicación práctica de la termodilución frente a la ecografía-Doppler en la medición del flujo del acceso vascular / Practical utility of thermodilution versus doppler ultrasound to measure haemodialysis blood access flow

Introducción: Las actuales guías recomiendan la medición periódica del flujo vascular (Qa). Los métodos actualmente validados son la ecografía-Doppler (ED) y la ultrasonografía dilucional. Objetivo: Analizar la aplicación práctica de la termodilución (TD) en la medición del Qa respecto a la ED. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal realizado en 64 pacientes (41 varones) en programa de hemodiálisis; 59,9 años con 54 FAVI y 10 politetrafluoroetileno (PTFE). El Qa de referencia se determinó por ED en la arteria humeral (fístula arteriovenosa [FAVI]) y en el tramo de punción arterial (PTFE). Para el análisis de concordancia se utilizó el método de Bland-Altman y el coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI). Resultados: El Qa obtenido por ED resultó 1426 ± 753 ml/min FAVI y 1186 ± 789 ml/min PTFE. Los valores obtenidos por TD fueron 1372 ± 770 FAVI (sesgo 54,6; CCI 0,923) y 1176 ± 758 PTFE (sesgo 10,2; CCI 0,992). En el subgrupo de 28 pacientes portadores de FAVI radio-cefálicas latero-terminales el Qa obtenido por ED resultó 1232 ± 767 ml/min. A nivel de la arteria radial 942 (CCI 0,805); arteria radial-cubital 1.103 (CCI 0,973); vena cefálica 788 (CCI 0,772) y TD 1026 (CCI 0,971). Se detectaron 5 estenosis significativas; Kt posrevascularización mediante catéter balón de angioplastia (ATP): 79 l (61; p = 0,043) y Qa-TD post-ATP 895 ml/min (663; p = 0,043). Conclusiones: La TD resultó un método indirecto automatizado útil en la medición del Qa. En el subgrupo de pacientes con FAVI radio-cefálicas resultó más preciso el sumatorio de flujo obtenido en arteria radial y cubital. Sin embargo, la TD también presentó una excelente correlación con la arteria humeral (AU)

Introduction: The current clinical guidelines recommend indirect measurement of vascular access blood flow (Qa) as one of the most important components in vascular access maintenance programmes. The best-known methods are doppler ultrasound (DU) and saline dilution method. Objective: This study evaluates the efficiency of Qa measurement using the thermodilution method (TD) in comparison with DU. Material and Method: Cross-sectional study in 64 patients on haemodialysis (41 males); mean age: 59.9 years, with 54 AVFs and 10 PTFE. Qa reference values were obtained with DU in the brachial artery (AVFs) or at the zone of arterial puncture (PTFE). Bland-Altman and interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to study accuracy. Results: Mean values obtained with DU-Qa were 1426 ± 753 mL/min for AVFs and 1186 ± 789mL/min for PTFE grafts. The mean Qa with TD was 1372 ± 770 for AVFs (bias: 54.6; ICC: 0.923) and 1176 ± 758 for PTFE (bias 10.2; ICC 0.992). In the 28 patients with radiocephalic side-to-end AVFs, the mean DU-Qa was 1232 ± 767mL/min. Qa values were measured in the radial artery: 942 (ICC 0.805); radial-ulnar artery: 1103 (ICC 0.973); cephalic vein: 788 (ICC 0.772), and with TD: 1026 (ICC 0.971). We detected 5 cases of significant stenosis. After endovascular treatment, mean Kt was 79 liters (61; P=.043) and mean TD-Qa was 895mL/min (663; P=.043). Conclusions: TD represents a good indirect method of Qa measurement. In patients with radiocephalic AVFs, Qa measurements in the radial and ulnar artery are more accurate. Therefore, in this situation the TD method obtained an excellent correlation with values taken from the brachial artery (AU)

Practical utility of thermodilution versus doppler ultrasound to measure hemodialysis blood access flow.

INTRODUCTION: The current clinical guidelines recommend indirect access blood flow (Qa) measurement as one of the most important components in vascular access maintenance programs. The best-know methods are doppler ultrasound (DU) and saline dilution method. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the efficiency of Qa measurement with thermodilution method (TD) in comparison with the DU. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Transversal study in 64 patients in hemodialysis (41 men); mean age 59.9 years with 54 AVFs and 10 PTFE. Qa reference value was obtained with DU in brachial artery (AVFs) or at the zone of arterial puncture (AVGs). Bland-Altman and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to study accuracy. RESULTS: Mean values obtained with DU-Qa were 1426 ± 753 mL/min AVFs and 1186 ± 789 mL/min AVGs. The mean Qa with TD was 1372 ± 770 AVFs (bias 54.6; ICC 0.923) and 1176 ± 758 AVGs (bias 10.2; ICC 0.992). In the subgroup of 28 patients with radiocephalic latero-terminal AVFs the DU-Qa was 1232 ± 767 mL/min. The Qa was in radial artery 942 (ICC 0.805); radial-ulnar artery 1103 (ICC 0.973); cephalic vein 788 (ICC 0.772) and TD 1026 (ICC 0.971). We detected 5 cases of significant stenosis. After endovascular treatment the Kt was 79 liters (61; p=0.043) and TD-Qa 895 mL/min (663; p=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: TD represents a good indirect method of Qa measurement. In the subgroup of patients with radiocephalic AVFs, Qa measurements in the radial and ulnar artery are more accurate. Therefore, in this situation the TD method obtained an excellent correlation in comparison to brachial artery.