Accessory Vein Obliteration and Balloon-Assisted Maturation for Immature Arteriovenous Fistulas for Haemodialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine outcomes of immature arteriovenous fistula salvage using balloon angioplasty (PTA) without and with accessory vein obliteration (PTA + VO).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

PubMed and Embase were accessed on 21 September 2020 to retrieve cohort studies on adult patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) requiring dialysis. Risk of bias was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Studies were pooled into PTA or PTA + VO arms, with outcomes (technical/clinical success, primary/secondary post-intervention patency until 12 months) reported as event rates with 95% confidence intervals. Random-effects model and maximum likelihood meta-regression were used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies (1030 participants) were included. The between-subgroup difference in outcomes was largely non-significant (p > 0.050).

CONCLUSION

The evidence does not support balloon angioplasty with concomitant accessory vein obliteration for immature fistula salvage.