Abstract
Purpose: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are the preferred method for patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. However, AVFs are prone to developing stenosis, creating difficulties with proper functioning for hemodialysis. Percutaneous balloon angioplasty (PBA) is the mainstay of treatment for stenosis, yet there remains debate regarding the use of drug-eluting balloons (DEBs) containing paclitaxel compared to non-medicated balloons (NMBs). This study examined whether any significant differences exist in patient outcomes with the use of DEBs as compared to NMBs.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on a sample of 60 patients who received PBA for the treatment of AVF stenosis over 5 years. The analysis included the impact of balloon type used (DEB or NMB), demographic factors such as age, biological sex, location of the stenosis, and history of prior AVF on clinical outcomes at 6 and 12 months post-procedure. Statistical analysis was completed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) via Fisher’s exact and chi-square tests.
Results: No significant differences in PBA outcomes were observed with the use of DEBs versus NMBs. Age, sex, stenosis location, and history of previous intervention also demonstrated no significant impacts on patient outcomes (all p-values > 0.05).
Conclusions: The outcomes of AVF stenosis treatment did not appear to be impacted by the type of balloon used, age, biological sex, location of stenosis, or vessel naivety in this retrospective study. Future research is warranted, given conflicting findings within literature.
Published on: August 25, 2025
doi: 10.17756/micr.2025-118
Citation: Collins C, Hodder A, Dalton A. 2025. Comparing Efficacies of Drug-eluting versus Non-medicated Balloons in Arteriovenous Fistula Stenosis. J Med Imaging Case Rep 9(2): 29-34.
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