Endovasal laser obliteration of arteriovenous fistulas in patients on chronic hemodialy

Introduction. Vascular access complications are associated with about 30% of patient hospitalizations, and annual costs of vascular access maintenance account for 14–20% of total healthcare costs for dialysis patients. At the same time, current international clinical guidelines emphasize the need to implement a patient-centered approach with planning of possible vascular access complications and selection of optimal surgical interventions (risk/benefit balance) for correction of compromised access.
Aim. To present the first experience of endovasal laser obliteration of arteriovenous fistulas for correction of venous hypertension syndrome.
Materials and methods. The first experience of complicated arteriovenous fistulas liquidation using endovasal laser obliteration in 6 patients receiving hemodialysis replacement therapy for stage 5 chronic kidney disease (National kidney Foundation (NkF) classification) is presented. In 5 patients due to the presence of venous hypertension of the upper extremity, where the arteriovenous fistula functioned, open intervention was unacceptable because of the high risk of bleeding. In one patient the arteriovenous fistula was closed due to its aneurysmatic transformation. we performed endovasal laser obliteration of four Cimino-type radial artery-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas, one brachial-basilar arteriovenous fistula, and one brachial-cubital arteriovenous fistula. Endovasal laser obliteration was performed with an endovascular light guide under ultrasound navigation using tumescent anesthesia. we used a laser device with a wavelength of 1.56 µm and power of 15 w, working in continuous mode (time 2–4 min, energy density 500 to 1,000 J/cm). The average diameter (Me) of the fistula vein was 8 mm.
Results. The course of the early postoperative period in all patients was uncomplicated. The follow-up period was 30 days. Symptoms of venous hypertension were eliminated in all patients, the pain syndrome disappeared completely, there were slight feelings of heaviness and fullness of the limb.
Discussion. Experience has shown that standard modes used for varicose vein obliteration for elimination of arteriovenous fistulas in chronic renal failure are ineffective: under conditions of blood flow in the area of arteriovenous anastomosis the energy density is almost 10 times higher. Therefore, other modes were used in our study: energy density from 500 to 1,000 J/cm. This was due to the lack of coagulation of the fistula vein when using standard parameters due to high blood flow rate, despite the use of proximal and distal vascular compression. In all cases we obtained positive results (obliteration of arteriovenous fistulas) without complications along with the correction of venous hypertension within 1 month after the intervention.
Conclusion. The advantages of this method are technical simplicity and minimal blood loss, which is especially important for this cohort of patients with initial anemia against chronic renal failure.

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