J Korean Soc Radiol.  2025 Mar;86(2):249-258. 10.3348/jksr.2023.0135.

Comparison of Helical Interwoven Nitinol Stent Placement Versus Balloon Angioplasty for Arteriovenous Dialysis Graft Malfunction Caused by Stenosis of the Venous Anastomosis Site

• Hyun JH
• Kim DR
• Nam IC
• Lee JS
• Kim JJ
• Kim H
• Kim M

• KMID: 2566621
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2023.0135

Abstract

Purpose
The study aimed to compare the differences in patency between helical interwoven nitinol stents and balloon angioplasty in patients with arteriovenous graft (AVG) malfunction caused by venous anastomosis stenosis.
Materials and Methods
This retrospective study included patients who underwent helical interwoven nitinol stent placement (n = 15) or balloon angioplasty (n = 25) between January 2016 and September 2021. The primary and secondary patency rates were compared between the two groups.
Results
Dialysis was possible post-intervention in all patients who showed no specific complications, including stent fracture. The average primary patency of the stent placement group was longer than that of the balloon angioplasty group but did not differ significantly (8.5 vs. 6.3 months, p = 0.319). The mean secondary patency period was 17.6 months in the stent placement group, which was shorter than that in the balloon angioplasty group (18.8 months); however, this difference was also not statistically significant (p = 0.660).
Conclusion
Helical interwoven nitinol stents could maintain patency in patients with AVG malfunction caused by venous anastomosis stenosis, but they did not improve patency compared to balloon angioplasty.

Keyword

Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; Self Expandable Metallic Stent; Angioplasty, Balloon