Paclitaxel coated balloon versus conventional balloon angioplasty in dysfunctional dialysis arteriovenous fistula: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Comparison of Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Drug-Coated Balloons versus Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in Arteriovenous Fistulae: A Review of Systematic Reviews and Updated Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) compared with those of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis via a review of systematic reviews (SRs) and an update of the current meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature was searched to retrieve SRs comparing DCBs and PTA for AVFs. A narrative review of SRs and pooled analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Eleven SRs were included. DCBs demonstrated favorable outcomes at 6 and 12 months compared with PTA, with improved patency in 7 SRs and a trend toward favorable outcomes without statistical significance in 3 SRs. Target lesion revascularization (TLR) was reported in 3 SRs; 2 reviews reported a significantly lower incidence in the DCB group than in the PTA group, whereas 1 review reported no significant differences at 12 months. Four studies reporting all-cause mortality revealed no significant difference between the 2 treatments. In the updated meta-analysis including 23 studies, DCBs demonstrated improved primary patency at 6 months (risk ratio [RR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.07-1.50) and 12 months (RR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.19-1.55) and were associated with a lower incidence of TLR at 6 months (RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.41-0.73) and 12 months (RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62-0.99). There was no difference in mortality between the 2 groups for 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

A review of SRs and meta-analysis update revealed the consistent benefits of DCBs over PTA in treating AVFs in terms of primary patency and TLR. Compared with PTA, DCBs do not increase mortality risk.

Arteriovenous Access for Hemodialysis: A Review

Importance

Hemodialysis requires reliable vascular access to the patient's blood circulation, such as an arteriovenous access in the form of an autogenous arteriovenous fistula or nonautogenous arteriovenous graft. This Review addresses key issues associated with the construction and maintenance of hemodialysis arteriovenous access.

Observations

All patients with kidney failure should have an individualized strategy (known as Patient Life-Plan, Access Needs, or PLAN) for kidney replacement therapy and dialysis access, including contingency plans for access failure. Patients should be referred for hemodialysis access when their estimated glomerular filtration rate progressively decreases to 15 to 20 mL/min, or when their peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplant, or current vascular access is failing. Patients with chronic kidney disease should limit or avoid vascular procedures that may complicate future arteriovenous access, such as antecubital venipuncture or peripheral insertion of central catheters. Autogenous arteriovenous fistulas require 3 to 6 months to mature, whereas standard arteriovenous grafts can be used 2 to 4 weeks after being established, and "early-cannulation" grafts can be used within 24 to 72 hours of creation. The prime pathologic lesion of flow-related complications of arteriovenous access is intimal hyperplasia within the arteriovenous access that can lead to stenosis, maturation failure (33%-62% at 6 months), or poor patency (60%-63% at 2 years) and suboptimal dialysis. Nonflow complications such as access-related hand ischemia ("steal syndrome"; 1%-8% of patients) and arteriovenous access infection require timely identification and treatment. An arteriovenous access at high risk of hemorrhaging is a surgical emergency.

Conclusions and Relevance

The selection, creation, and maintenance of arteriovenous access for hemodialysis vascular access is critical for patients with kidney failure. Generalist clinicians play an important role in protecting current and future arteriovenous access; identifying arteriovenous access complications such as infection, steal syndrome, and high-output cardiac failure; and making timely referrals to facilitate arteriovenous access creation and treatment of arteriovenous access complications.

Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for hematoma after autologous arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients

To determine the risk factors and nursing countermeasures for post-operative hematoma in hemodialysis patients with autogenous arteriovenous fistula by logistic regression analysis. A retrospective analysis of 240 chronic hemodialysis patients admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to October 2022 was performed. Physical and vascular examinations of the patients were performed by surgeons. Continuous care measures were implemented for all patients. The patient serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured on the day of inclusion and after the implementation of care measures. Self-management scales were used to analyze patients' self-management. Fatigue symptoms were assessed using the Fatigue Scale 14. The WHO Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF score) was used to assess patients' quality of life. Self-Rating Depression Scale and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used to assess negative affect. Treatment compliance was assessed according to 3 levels: complete compliance, compliance, and noncompliance. In all, 240 patients underwent 240 initial and 48 repeat procedures; 18 of the 240 patients experienced fistula failure, with an overall success rate of 92.5% (222/240). There were no significant differences in renal function, self-management, General Self-Efficacy Scale, fatigue symptom scores, and WHOQOL-BREF scores between the postoperative hematoma group and no-hematoma group before the continuous care. After continuous care, renal function, self-management, General Self-Efficacy Scale, fatigue symptom scores, and WHOQOL-BREF scores were better in the postoperative no-hematoma group than in the hematoma group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05). Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for postoperative hematoma showed that elevated Scr and BUN levels, decreased self-management and SAS scores and poor treatment compliance were independent risk factors for postoperative hematoma in hemodialysis patients with autologous arteriovenous fistulas (P < .05). Elevated Scr levels, elevated BUN levels, decreased self-management scores, decreased SAS scores, and poor treatment compliance were independent risk factors for postoperative hematoma in hemodialysis patients with autogenous arteriovenous fistulas. By providing continuous care to hemodialysis patients based on timing theory, the negative emotions can be alleviated and the self-efficacy, quality of life, and treatment compliance of the patients can be improved.

A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial for Comparing Drug-Coated and Conventional Balloon Angioplasty in Venous Anastomotic Stenosis of Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Grafts

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of drug-coated balloon angioplasty compared to conventional balloon angioplasty in the treatment of dysfunctional arteriovenous grafts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial enrolled 190 patients with venous anastomotic stenosis in arteriovenous grafts at five participating hospitals. During pre-dilation, 4 patients dropped out due to ruptures requiring further treatment (n = 2) and residual stenosis of > 30% (n = 2). On successful pre-dilation with a 7 mm conventional balloon, patients were randomized to undergo either a 7 mm drug-coated balloon (n = 94) or conventional balloon angioplasty (n = 92). The primary out-come measure was target lesion primary patency at 3 and 6 months. The secondary out-come measures included target lesion primary patency at 12 months and access circuit primary patency at 6 and 12 months, clinical and technical success rates, and 12-month mortality differences between the groups.

RESULTS

The target lesion primary patency and access circuit patency rates at 3 and 6 months were significantly higher in drug-coated balloon angioplasty group as compared to conventional balloon angioplasty group. The technical and clinical success rates were 100% for both the groups. As a procedure-related complication, anastomotic site rupture occurred during pre-dilation in 4 cases. The number of deaths during the 12-month follow-up was one for each group. The number of early thrombotic events (at < 3 months) was significantly higher in the drug-coated balloon group (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Drug-coated balloon angioplasty was more effective and safer for the treatment of dysfunctional arteriovenous grafts compared to conventional balloon angioplasty.

Cost-Effectiveness of Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty versus Plain Old Balloon Angioplasty for Arteriovenous Fistula Stenosis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the cost-effectiveness of drug-coated balloon angioplasty (DCB) versus plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) for treatment of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis.

METHODS

A Markov model was created to compare DCB versus POBA for AVF stenosis over a 2-year time horizon from a United States payer's perspective. Probabilities related to complications, restenosis, retreatment, and all-cause mortality were obtained from published literature. Costs were calculated using Medicare reimbursement rates and data from published cost analyses, inflation-adjusted to 2021. Health outcomes were measured with quality-adjusted life years (QALY). Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses were performed with a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/QALY.

RESULTS

Base case calculation showed better quality-of-life outcomes but increased cost with POBA compared to DCB, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $27,413/QALY, making POBA the more cost-effective strategy in the base case model. Sensitivity analyses showed that DCB becomes cost-effective if the 24-month mortality rate after DCB is no more than 3.4% higher than that after POBA. In secondary analyses where mortality rates were equalized, DCB was more cost-effective than POBA until its additional cost reached more than $4213 per intervention.

CONCLUSION

When modeled from a payer's perspective over 2 years, the cost utility of DCB versus POBA varies with mortality outcomes. POBA is cost-effective if 2-year all-cause mortality after DCB is greater than 3.4% higher than after POBA. If 2-year mortality after DCB is less than 3.4% higher than after POBA, DCB is cost-effective until its additional cost per procedure exceeds $4213 more than POBA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

HISTORICALLY CONTROLLED STUDY.: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The Role of Drug-Coated Balloon in Haemodialysis Arteriovenous Fistula Stenosis Management

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis is a common problem leading to dialysis access dysfunction. The conventional balloon (CB) is the most commonly used device during angioplasty but suffers from poor durability of results due to neointimal hyperplasia-mediated recurrence. The drug-coated balloon (DCB) is an adjunct to balloon angioplasty that reduces neointimal hyperplasia, thereby improving post-angioplasty patency. Despite the heterogeneity of DCB clinical trials to date, the evidence suggests that DCBs of different brands are not necessarily equal, and that patient selection, adequate lesion preparation and proper DCB procedural technique are important to realize the benefit of DCB angioplasty.

Choosing the right treatment for the right lesion, Part II: a narrative review of drug-coated balloon angioplasty and its evolving role in dialysis access maintenance

Background and Objective

Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) seek to inhibit restenosis in treated hemodialysis access lesions by delivering an anti-proliferative agent (paclitaxel) into the vessel wall. While DCBs have proven effective in the coronary and peripheral arterial vasculature, the evidence for their use in arteriovenous (AV) access has been less robust. In part two of this review, a comprehensive overview of DCB mechanisms, implementation, and design is provided, followed by an examination of the evidence basis for their use in AV access stenosis.

Methods

An electronic search was performed on PubMed and EMBASE to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing DCBs and plain balloon angioplasty from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2022 published in English. As part of this narrative review, a review of DCB mechanisms of action, implementation, and design is provided, followed by a review of available RCTs and other studies.

Key Content and Findings

Numerous DCBs have been developed, each with unique properties, although the degree to which these differences impact clinical outcomes is unclear. Target lesion preparation, achieved by pre-dilation, and balloon inflation time have proven important factors in achieving optimal DCB treatment. Numerous RCTs have been performed, but have suffered from significant heterogeneity, and have often reported contrasting clinical results, making it difficult to draw conclusions on how to implement DCBs in daily practice. On the whole, it is likely there is a population of patients who benefit from DCB use, but it is unclear which patients benefit most and what device, technical, and procedural factors lead to optimal outcomes. Importantly, DCBs use appears safe in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population.

Conclusions

DCB implementation has been tempered by the lack of clear signal regarding the benefits of DCB use. As further evidence is obtained, it is possible that a precision-based approach to DCBs may shed light onto which patients will truly benefit from DCBs. Until that time, the evidence reviewed herein may serve to guide interventionalists in their decision making, knowing that DCBs appear safe when used in AV access and may provide some benefit in certain patients.

Angioplasty of Dysfunctional Dialysis Fistula or Graft with Resveratrol-Excipient and Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Improves Primary Patency Rates Compared to Plain Angioplasty Alone

In this prospective randomized single-blinded study (reg. ISRCTN11414306), 76 patients with a dysfunctional dialysis fistula or graft due to a single de novo or recurrent stenosis in the access circuit were randomized to receive either conventional PTA (POBA) as a standard of care (n = 38) or PTA + adjunctive PTA with a drug-coated (paclitaxel-resveratrol matrix) SeQuent^® Please OTW balloon (n = 38, DCB). Patients were scheduled for follow-up PTA at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The time of clinically driven target-lesion reintervention rate (primary patency rate) after the index procedure was analyzed using the log-rank test. The primary patency rates at 12 months after the index procedure were 17% (DCB) vs. 11% (POBA). At 3 months, they were 87% vs. 74%, at 6 months they were 53% vs. 26%, and at 9 months they were 22% vs. 11%. The hazard ratio for DCB was 0.55 (95%CI 0.32 to 0.95). The median time needed for target-lesion reintervention was longer in the DCB group (181 days) than in the conventional PTA group (98 days, p = 0.019). We conclude that PTA with the paclitaxel-resveratrol drug-coated SeQuent^® Please OTW balloon in patients with de novo or recurrent stenosis in dialysis arteriovenous fistulas or grafts prolongs the time needed for target lesion reintervention and improves primary patency rates in the first year after the index procedure.