Residual stenosis after conventional balloon angioplasty for hemodialysis shunt failure: treatment with metallic stent placement and post-balloon dilatation.

PURPOSE: The usefulness of metallic stent placement and post-balloon dilatation was investigated for patients with residual stenosis after conventional percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (balloon PTA) of dialysis shunt vessels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 92 patients who had received balloon PTA for dialysis shunt vessels, seven patients who showed a residual waist on the balloon even under maximum inflation were enrolled in this study. In these patients with residual stenosis after balloon PTA, we inserted a stent in the residual stenosis, and post-balloon dilatation was immediately applied using the same balloon catheter.

RESULTS: After balloon PTA, the average percent diameter stenosis declined to 45.5 +/- 7.30%, and the stenosis was further improved to an average of 19.3 +/- 7.09% after the placement of a stent and the additional balloon PTA. The average percent diameter dilatation of the balloon before the placement of a stent was 65.8 +/- 12.7%, while the average dilatation increased to 84.1 +/- 8.96% after the placement of a stent. Dialysis became possible immediately after the procedure in all cases.

CONCLUSION: Metallic stent placement and post-balloon dilatation was effective for patients with residual stenosis after conventional balloon PTA of dialysis shunt vessels.