ABSTRACT
Interventional radiology in failing hemodialysis fistulas and grafts has been – in the meantime – accepted as a valid alternative to surgical revision. The literature does not show a significant difference concerning technical outcome, complication rate, and follow-up patency between surgical revision and an interventional radiologic approach.1-3 Most procedures are safe, easy to perform, and benign in outcome. In the majority of cases a transvenous access is used, severe bleeding complications therefore remain rare. Nevertheless, there are typical complications in percutaneous interventions in dialysis connections; the type, rate, and severity depend on the underlying problem, the method of treatment, and the means of access. Furthermore – albeit still very rare – there are some typical complications that are potentially life-threatening or disabling, such as pulmonary embolism, paradoxic arterial embolism, and septicemia. Others occur that require surgical repair.
