On Postoperative Day Balloon Angioplasty for Salvage of Newly-Placed, Flow-Limiting Native Arteriovenous Fistula

PURPOSE: To report result and usefulness of immediate postoperative balloon angioplasty of de novo arteriovenous fistula (AVF) with limited flow just after creation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1, 2012 to March 31, 2014, 1,270 patients received native AVF creations in a single vascular clinic. In twenty-four patients (1.9% of total AVF creation), immediate postoperative balloon angioplasty was performed because of limited flow on palpation (only pulsation or no thrill) just after AVF creation. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively; technical success (restoration of AVF flow)/clinical success (growing as functional AVF) rate, maturation time, primary patency rate and fistula survival outcome were analyzed during a mean 10.8 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Technical/clinical success rate was 95.8% (23/24 cases); AVF flow was restored after balloon angioplasty, and all the flow-restorated AVFs grew as functional AVFs with mean±standard deviation, 4.5±1.5 weeks of maturation time. In seven (30.4%) patients, a secondary balloon angioplasty was needed to enhance maturation. The overall primary patency after immediate postoperative balloon angioplasty was 69.6% at 1 and 6 months and 59.0% at 12 months. There was 1 complication (operation site hematoma). CONCLUSION: Immediate postoperative balloon angioplasty for salvage of newly-placed, flow-limiting native AVF is a useful, effective and safe procedure.