Abstract
If percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of a hemodialysis shunt cannot induce sufficient dilation due to heavy calcification of the vessel, such a lesion has a high possibility of restenosis. We introduced the parallel wire technique (PWT) for rigid lesions, and investigated the effectiveness of the PWT.
PTA was perfomed in 37 lesions of 21 patients. Lesions were divided into two groups: conventional angioplasty techniques were used in 28 lesions and PWT was used in 9 lesions. Initial success rate and long-term patency rates were compared in the two groups.
The initial success rate was the same (100% vs. 100%), but long-term patency rates were greater in the PWT group than in the conventional angioplasty techniques group (patency rates after 24 months were 100% with PWT and 41.2% with conventional angioplasty techniques).
These results suggest that PWT is useful for dilation of rigid lesions of stenotic fistulas and produces good long-term patency rates.
