DIRECTIONAL ATHERECTOMY FOR THE STENOSIS OF ACCESS GRAFTS

Abstract

We carried out directional atherectomy (DA) using a Simpson catheter to the stenosis of six access grafts, for a total of 12 times. Although two grafts could not obtain an improvement of the obstruction by DA, four grafts could obtain the improvement. Sufficient release of graft stenosis was obtained after DA, and the increase of blood flow volume and a decrease of venous pressure were observed. Repeated DA was performed when recurrent stenosis was identified. A mean interval between DA and graft re-stenosis was 8 months. For the treatment of the grafts stenosis, directional atherectomy is a useful method and can be carried out easily and repeatedly.