Midterm Results Following Percutaneous Rotational Thrombectomy for Acute Occlusions of Arteriovenous Access Grafts

The document presents the midterm results of a study on percutaneous rotational thrombectomy for acute occlusions of arteriovenous access grafts. Between March 2012 and January 2015, 30 thrombectomies were performed on 22 patients (mean age 53.3 ± 24 years) using the Rotarex catheter or Aspirex. Immediate success with angiographic flow restoration was achieved in 28 patients (93%), with 2 patients experiencing re-occlusion within 12 hours. Over a 1-year follow-up, 8 patients (26%) experienced re-thrombosis requiring reintervention. The study concluded that endovascular therapy for occluded dialysis access can reestablish function in the majority of patients, tripling functional longevity, with low morbidity and mortality, and preserving future access sites. The percutaneous techniques are becoming increasingly important in the treatment of failed or failing arteriovenous fistulae and grafts.