Aneurysms of Hemodialysis Access Grafts: Treatment with Covered Stents: A Report of Three Cases

Three patients with dialysis access graft shunts, having a symptomatic pseudoaneurysm and a hemodynamically significant stenosis at the anastomosis between the graft shunt and the subclavian vein, were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and insertion of a Wallstent. Pseudoaneurysms were excluded by percutaneous insertion of a Cragg Endo-Pro stent-graft with a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 6–10 cm. All three aneurysms were excluded successfully. In two patients, the stent-graft was punctured repeatedly during follow-up and the aneurysms recurred after 7 and 8 months, respectively. The patency of the dialysis shunt after stent-graft insertion was 8 (n= 1) and 9 months (n= 2). Due to the recurrence of the aneurysm (n= 2) or recurrent thrombosis (n= 1) the use of these shunts was discontinued.