Factors affecting arteriovenous access patency after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in chronic haemodialysis patients under vascular access monitoring and surveillance: a single-centre observational study

OBJECTIVES: Maintenance of vascular access (VA) patency after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is important and remains a challenge despite VA monitoring and surveillance. The aim of this study was to examine factors affecting the post-PTA arteriovenous access (AVA) patency in patients who have been on close VA monitoring and surveillance for access flow. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A single medical centre in Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: Records of patients who received chronic haemodialysis between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups (without or with PTA intervention on AVA). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME: Patients were followed until reintervention PTA, termination or abandoned VA or end of study. In addition to routine monitoring, VA flow surveillance was performed every 3 months for detection of VA dysfunction adhering to Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 508 patients were selected for study inclusion (with PTA, n=231; without PTA, n=277). At baseline, variables that differed between groups included malignancy and levels of albumin, uric acid, potassium, phosphorous, high-density lipoprotein, total bilirubin and ferritin (all p<0.05). Significant between-group differences were observed for β-adrenergic blocking agents (with PTA, 49.8%; without PTA, 37.5%; p, 0.007) and ADP inhibitors (with PTA, 23.8%; without PTA, 11.2%; p<0.001). Among patients with PTA, those with acute myocardial infarction, high ferritin level or arteriovenous graft (AVG) had a significantly higher risk of reintervention post-PTA (p<0.05). Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, ADP inhibitors, and warfarin use were predictors of post-PTA patency (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AVG access type, acute myocardial infarction, and high ferritin levels are risk factors for re-intervention post-PTA. These findings may be useful in the development of prophylactic strategies for monitoring VA function and tailoring surveillance programs for these dialysis patients.