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Objective:To investigate the effect of improved partial graft excision (iPGE) in the treatment of infected arteriovenous grafts (AVG).Methods:It was a single-center retrospective study. A cohort database study of patients who underwent surgery for infected AVG from January 2019 to July 2022 was conducted. The cases were divided into total graft excision (TGE) group and iPGE group, and the postoperative reinfection rate and surgery-related complications, such as bleeding, nerve injury and limb ischemia, in the two groups were analyzed. The primary patency rate and the secondary patency rate at 3 months and 6 months after the surgery in the iPGE group were analyzed.Results:(1) General information: A total of 47 cases were included in the study. Among these 47 cases, 14 cases had undergone iPGE of infected AVG, and 33 cases had undergone TGE. The study population was of an average age of 59 years (21-81 years), including 18 males and 29 females. Dialysis age was 36 (14, 72) months. AVG age was 18 (4, 36) months. The shortest AVG age was half a month, and the longest AVG age was 72 months. (2)Comparative analysis of the two groups: The reinfection rate of the iPGE group was 21.4% (3/14), and the reinfection rate of the TGE group was 0 (0/33). The reinfection rate of the iPGE group was higher than that of the TGE group, and the difference was statistically significant (Fisher exact test, P=0.022). For 11 patients in the iPGE group (excluding 3 cases with reinfection), the shortest follow-up period was 5 months and the longest follow-up period was 18 months. In the iPGE group, the primary patency rate at 3 months was 72.7% (8/11), and the primary patency rate at 6 months was 72.7% (8/11); the secondary patency rate at 3 months was 100% (11/11) and the secondary patency rate at 6 months was 90.9% (10/11). There was no brachial artery rupture, nerve injury or limb ischemia in the iPGE group. In the TGE group, 1 case underwent secondary repair of brachial artery due to brachial artery rupture, and there was no nerve injury or limb ischemia in other cases. Conclusions:During the treatment of infected AVG, iPGE can preserve the original fistula, and avoid central venous catheterization. At the same time, the operation difficulty and risk are relatively low. Although the reinfection rate of iPGE is slightly higher than that of TGE in this study, the reinfection rate of iPGE is lower than that reported in the previous study. The key to prevent reinfection is to grasp the reasonable surgical adaptation signs in preoperative evaluation, perform intraoperative reevaluation and control surgical operation details. The iPGE represents an acceptable method for the treatment of some particular patients with infected AVG.
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OBJECTIVE: We applied a modified pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) technique to endovascular treatment of thrombosed arteriovenous (AV) grafts without the use of any mechanical thrombectomy devices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the PMT technique in the treatment of thrombosed AV grafts by analyzing the long-term patency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients with thrombosed AV grafts were treated with the PMT technique. AV graft surveillance to detect failing/failed access was followed by endovascular treatment. RESULTS: The technical and clinical success rates were 95% and 95%, respectively. The total number of thrombolysis sessions was 279. A post-intervention primary patency rate was 45% and 22% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. The secondary patency rate was 96% and 91% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. No major complications were noticed. CONCLUSION: The modified PMT technique is effective in endovascular treatment of thrombosed AV grafts.