Endovascular treatment of central venous obstruction as a complication of prolonged hemodialysis - Preliminary experience in a tertiary care center

Fatal Hemoptysis With Pleural Effusions Secondary to Superior Vena Cava Obstruction as a Complication of Central Venous Catheterization

This report outlines a rare case of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome presenting with hemoptysis in a 33-year-old female Jehovah's Witness patient with a complex medical history, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and chronic hemodialysis dependency due to end-stage renal disease and a failed renal transplant. The SVC syndrome was attributed to occlusion from a right subclavian dialysis catheter. The management of this case was particularly challenging due to the patient's severe anemia and the development of a tension hemothorax following thoracentesis, compounded by her refusal of blood transfusions in adherence to her religious beliefs. A multidisciplinary approach, incorporating bloodless medical techniques such as erythropoietin and iron infusions alongside surgical interventions without blood transfusion, was successfully employed. This case sheds light on the evolving etiology of SVC syndrome and highlights the uncommon but potentially fatal occurrence of hemoptysis as a complication. It also emphasizes the importance of respecting patient values in complex medical decisions.

Internal jugular to internal jugular vein bypass of symptomatic central vein obstruction

INTRODUCTION

Central venous obstruction (CVO) often arises among hemodialysis patients with upper extremity access due to a varying number of risk factors. While the true incidence of CVO in hemodialysis patients is unknown, it been reported in the range of 20%-40% in dialysis patients undergoing venograms. In the non-hemodialysis population, chronic central vein obstruction has a compensatory mechanism comprised of numerous collaterals along the chest wall, neck, and mediastinum. However, the presence of an AVF or AVG ipsilateral to a central venous stenosis or occlusion can overwhelm the collateral network due to the significantly elevated blood flow. This may result in severe and debilitating upper extremity and fascial swelling. While ligation results in almost instantaneous symptomatic relief, it does not address the patient's underlying pathologic process and necessitates an additional access. As these patients continue to live longer, our strategies to manage these failing accesses are becoming increasingly complex. The goal of preserving existing access while correcting any symptoms is paramount. Previous case reports have documented various surgical options for preserving an existing access.

CASE PRESENTATION

Our patient is a 49-year-old female with hypertension and end-stage renal disease, on hemodialysis through a right arm arteriovenous (AV) fistula. She had a history of multiple AV fistulae creations in the past, all of which previously thrombosed. Several years after the creation of her most recent fistula, she developed severe throbbing headaches, right arm and facial swelling, right eye lacrimation, and blurry vision. AV fistula angiogram demonstrated right brachiocephalic vein chronic occlusion and endovascular revascularization through both trans-AVF and transfemoral approaches were attempted, but unsuccessful.

DISCUSSION

This case illustrates the success of the creation of an internal jugular-jugular vein bypass to maintain a right arm arteriovenous fistula, while at the same time, correcting the symptoms of a right brachiocephalic vein occlusion.

A systematic review of venoplasty versus stenting for the treatment of central vein obstruction in ipsilateral hemodialysis access

OBJECTIVE

This review examines the evidence regarding treatment of central vein obstruction (CVO) in the setting of ipsilateral hemodialysis access. The aim of this work is to identify whether long-term venous patency after central vein stenting is superior compared with balloon venoplasty. To date, there are no evidence-based guidelines to direct the management of CVO in the setting of ipsilateral hemodialysis access.

METHODS

An extensive systematic database search was performed using Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Databases to identify all articles published from January 2000 to November 2019 comparing the management of CVO with venoplasty and/or stenting in the setting of ipsilateral hemodialysis access fistulae/grafts.

RESULTS

There were 655 patients with 456 stenoses and 208 occlusions who were treated; 288 underwent venoplasty and 345 underwent stenting. Twenty-two patients failed intervention owing to an inability to traverse the occlusion. The most affected vein was the brachiocephalic vein. A superior primary patency (PP) is noted in those treated with stenting compared with venoplasty in the first 2 years. Overall, both treatments are suboptimal demonstrating a 12-month PP rate of less than 60%. Assisted PP and secondary patency rates were similar for both venoplasty and stenting with a 12-month secondary patency rate of 77.8% to 91.6% for venoplasty and 89.6% to 98.4% for stenting. Periprocedural and long-term complications were rare for both interventions, occurring in 2% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although both treatments demonstrated poor patency rates, greater PP is noted for stenting in the first 2 years. Coupled with low complication rates, this finding highlights a potential benefit of stenting as a first-line treatment for CVO. Allowing for the overall poor quality of current studies, even this short-term improvement in PP may benefit patients undergoing hemodialysis. Further research with randomised control trials as well as assessment of adjuvant techniques such as drug-coated stents and balloons, anticoagulant therapy, and the role of intravascular ultrasound use is required.

Placement of hemodialysis catheters with the help of the micropuncture technique in patients with central venous occlusion and limited access

Background/aim

This study aims to describe the technical success of the micropuncture technique, which is performed in placement of tunneled hemodialysis catheters in patients with central venous occlusion and limited access.

Materials and methods

A total of 25 patients with central venous occlusion and in need of catheter placement for hemodialysis between 2012 and 2018 were included in this study and analyzed retrospectively. Technical success was defined as the placement of tunneled dialysis catheters with optimal position and function.

Results

Internal jugular vein access in 16 patients (14 right and 2 left) and right subclavian vein access in 3 patients were successfully performed in placement of the tunneled dialysis catheter. Although internal jugular and subclavian vein access was attempted bilaterally, the procedure failed in 6 patients. The overall technical success of recanalization of the occluded central veins was 76% (19/25). No minor or major complications were encountered.

Conclusion

Tunneled dialysis catheter placement through the occluded internal jugular and subclavian veins with the micropuncture technique is effective and safe in patients with limited vascular access. The recanalization of the occluded conventional access routes should always be kept in mind to allow for the preservation of vascular accesses for future requirements.

Evaluating a Novel Telescoping Catheter Set for Treatment of Central Venous Occlusions

BACKGROUND

Central venous occlusive disease (CVOD) is a prevalent problem in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and can lead to access malfunction or ligation for symptomatic relief. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the TriForce® Peripheral Crossing Set (Cook Medical), a novel reinforced telescoping catheter set designed to provide additional support for crossing difficult central venous occlusions.

METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective study from a quaternary referral center. We identified 37 patients over a 17-month period who underwent 56 attempts at endovascular recanalization for the treatment of central venous occlusion. Technical success rates, procedural data, and outcomes were compared between those undergoing recanalization using traditional wire/catheter sets versus the TriForce catheter set.

RESULTS

Average age was 48 ± 2 years. Comorbidities were similar between the two cohorts and included ESRD (61%), deep venous thrombosis (30%), and May-Thurner syndrome (7%). Forty attempts were made with traditional wire/catheter sets and 16 attempts with the TriForce catheter set to treat 2.1 ± 0.2 and 1.9 ± 0.3 occluded venous segments, respectively (P = 0.74). Technical success rates were significantly higher for the group undergoing recanalization using the TriForce catheter (69% versus 38%, P = 0.04) and 4 patients were successfully recanalized using the TriForce catheter set after a failed attempt with traditional wire/catheter sets. Mean fluoroscopy time and radiation dose were 13 ± 3 min and 14,623 ± 2,775 μGy∗m² for traditional techniques versus 30 ± 6 min and 30,408 ± 10,433 μGy∗m² for the novel telescoping catheter set (P = 0.01 and 0.09, respectively). Freedom from reintervention at 1 year was 60% for the TriForce cohort versus 44% for the traditional wire/catheter cohort (P = 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

The novel TriForce reinforced telescoping catheter set is a useful adjunct that may improve recanalization rates of CVOD compared with traditional wire/catheter sets.

Percutaneous intervention for symptomatic central vein stenosis in patients with upper limb arteriovenous dialysis access

Central venous stenosis is an important hindrance to long-term maintenance of arteriovenous access in the upper extremities in dialysis patients.

Aim

The present study was done to determine feasibility and clinical success of endovascular approach for the treatment of symptomatic central venous stenosis associated with significant ipsilateral limb edema in dialysis patients with vascular access in the upper limb.

Methods

A database of hemodialysis patients who underwent endovascular treatment for central venous stenosis from January 2014 to January 2017 at our institute was retrospectively reviewed. Follow-up was variable.

Results

The study included ten patients (6 men and 4 women) with a mean age of 45.2 years, who underwent thirteen interventions during a period of 3 years. The technical success rate for endovascular treatment was 100%. One patient underwent primary PTA (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty). Seven patients underwent primary PTA and stenting. Three patients underwent secondary PTA. One among these patients underwent secondary PTA twice along with fistuloplasty. One patient underwent secondary PTA with stenting. No immediate complications were encountered during the procedure. Our study shows a primary patency rate of 67% and 33% at 6 months and 12 months for PTA with stenting. Our study also shows secondary or assisted primary patency of 75% at 6 months of follow-up.

Conclusions

Endovascular therapy (PTA) with or without stenting for central venous stenosis is safe, with low rates of technical failure. Multiple additional interventions are the rule and long-term patency rate is not very good.