Intervention of the Dysfunctional and Thrombosed Autogenous Vascular Access / 한양의대학술지

In South Korea at the end of 2006, the total number of patients that had undergone renal replacement therapy was 46,730 (hemodialysis: 62.1%, peritoneal dialysis: 17.1%, functioning kidney transplantation: 20.8%). There were 9,197 new renal replacement therapy patients in 2006 and the incidence rate per million 185.3. In South Korea, the most common primary cause of end stage renal disease was diabetic nephropathy (42.3%), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (16.9%), and chronic glomerulonephritis (13.0%). The National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) has recommended placement of autogenous arteriovenous fistulas over alternatives including the use of arteriovenous grafts and central venous catheters to improve the overall outcome of patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, autogenous arteriovenous fistulas, like polytetrafluoroethylene grafts, are also subject to dysfunction and eventual failure. Since first described in 1982, percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty has become the mainstay of treatment for accesses failing because of underlying central or peripheral venous stenoses. When angioplasty alone fails, alternative treatment modalities, including stent placement and atherectomy, allow immediate salvage in most cases. Consequently, interventional treatment should be attempted first for dysfunctional and thrombosed autogenous vascular access and should be initiated in all dialysis centers so long as the local radiologists are trained and enthusiastic.

Interventional Therapy for Deep Venous Thrombosis in the Lower Limbs / 中国微创外科杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical effectiveness of interventional therapy for deep venous thrombosis(DVT) in the lower limbs.Methods A total of 38 patients with DVT were treated by intravenous thrombolysis;12 of them received percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty and intravascular stenting after the thrombolysis.According the evaluation criteria of our hospital,the outcomes of the patients were classified as cure(angiography showed complete lysis of the thrombus and smooth venous wall),markedly improved(the deep vein was patent with intravascular mural thrombi,the inner radius was reduced by less than 1/3),improved(angiography showed residual thrombi in the deep vein,and the inner radius was reduced by more than 1/3),and failure(the vein was still obstructed).Results After the treatments,cure was achieved in 22 patients,markedly improved in 14,and improved in 2.No severe complications occurred during the operations.Thirty-four of the patients were followed up for 3-24 months(3-6 months in 7 cases,7-12 months in 12,and 13-24 months in 15).Two patients had recurrence during the follow-up and were cured by intravenous thrombolysis.Conclusion Interventional therapy is continent,effective,and safe for DVT.

The Usefullness of Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty in the Management of Budd-Chiari Syndrome / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Membranous obstruction is the most common cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Orientals. Recently, percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTBA) has been successfully applied as a treatment of membranous obstruction. We evaluated etiologies and clinical manifestations in our cases and the usefulness of PTBA. METHODS: Twelve cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome were analyzed. RESULTS: 50.3 years was the average age of the cases (ranging from 37 to 67 years). Major symptoms or signs were superficial collateral vessels on the chest or the abdomen in 6 cases, ascites in 3, abdominal pain in 4, hepatomegaly in 4, splenomegaly in 3, melena or hematemesis in 2, and leg edema in 2. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed esophageal varices in 6 cases and two of these 6 cases had gastric varices. Of 8 cases with liver cirrhosis, 4 were classified as Child-Pugh class A and 4 as B. Four patients with cirrhosis had concurrent hepatocellular carcinoma including 1 patient who was HBs Ag positive. Etiologies were membranous obstruction in 11 cases and protein C deficiency in 1 case. The main site of obstruction was IVC in 8 and hepatic vein in 4. PTBA was successfully performed in 8 cases of membranous obstruction. During the mean follow-up period of 27.6 months (12-40 months), there were no reobstructions except in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The most common cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome in our cases was membranous obstruction of IVC. Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty is a very useful treatment method.