Collateral Ligation in Failing Fistulas

Hemodialysis Access Failure Clinical Trial

— CLiFF  

Official title:

Prospective Randomized Evaluation of the Effect of Ligation of Venous Side Branches in Dialysis Arteriovenous Fistulas Presenting With Failure to Mature

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03365089
• Other study ID #: 2017P001237
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 14, 2018
• Est. completion date: March 31, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: December 2018
• Source: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Contact: Zubin Irani, MD
• Phone: 617-643-0765
• Email: zirani[@]mgh.harvard.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) for hemodialysis often fail to become usable due to failure to mature (FTM). The most common cause is narrowing of the artery or vein (stenosis). Another potential cause is the presence of collateral or side branch veins that steal blood flow from the main fistula channel. Some believe that occluding these veins might help maturation of those failing AVFs. To evaluate if this actually works, patients with FTM will be randomly assigned to side branch vein ligation (or not), and rates of AVF maturation of the two groups will be compared.

Description:

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) for hemodialysis often fail to become usable due to failure to mature (FTM). The most common cause is stenosis of the artery or vein. Another potential cause is the presence of collateral or side branch veins that steal blood flow from the main fistula channel. The utility of ligating these veins to improve maturation of those failing AVFs is controversial. To evaluate this, 35 patients presenting for fistulograms for evaluation of AVFs with FTM, found to have side branch veins will be prospectively enrolled. After management of stenoses (if present), they will be randomly assigned to ligation of the venous side branches or not. Maturation rates for each group will be prospectively assessed. For patients assigned to the control group who have persistent failure to mature, a cross-over intervention will be performed and side branch ligation will be offered.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 35
• Est. completion date: March 31, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: December 31, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion criteria:

• Patients with upper extremity autogenous AVF presenting with FTM with evidence of collaterals on ultrasound and/or clinical exam.

Exclusion criteria:

• Age under 18 years

• Pregnant women

• Prior endovascular or surgical procedure in the fistula after its creation (with the exception of surgical superficialization or mobilization)

• Clinical evidence of infection associated with the AVF

• Uncorrectable coagulopathy (International Normalized Radio >2.5, platelet count <50.000/µL)

• Absence of significant venous side branches on angiogram (defined as those that arise in the initial 10 cm, including the future cannulation zone, and have maximal diameter greater than or equal to one third of the widest diameter of the fistula's main venous channel in this segment).

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Fistula
• Hemodialysis Access Failure

Intervention

Procedure:
• Collateral vein ligation
Collateral venous flow will be interrupted by ultrasound-guided ligation of venous side branches.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Massachusetts General Hospital	Boston	Massachusetts

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Massachusetts General Hospital

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (17)

Ahmed O, Patel M, Ginsburg M, Jilani D, Funaki B. Effectiveness of collateral vein embolization for salvage of immature native arteriovenous fistulas. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2014 Dec;25(12):1890-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2014.08.015. Epub 2014 Oct 3. — View Citation

Allon M, Robbin ML. Increasing arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients: problems and solutions. Kidney Int. 2002 Oct;62(4):1109-24. Review. — View Citation

Beathard GA, Settle SM, Shields MW. Salvage of the nonfunctioning arteriovenous fistula. Am J Kidney Dis. 1999 May;33(5):910-6. — View Citation

Cui J, Freed R, Liu F, Irani Z. Interrupting Rivaling Access-flow with Nonsurgical Image-guided ligation: the "IRANI" Procedure. Semin Dial. 2015 Nov-Dec;28(6):E53-7. doi: 10.1111/sdi.12450. — View Citation

Dariushnia SR, Walker TG, Silberzweig JE, Annamalai G, Krishnamurthy V, Mitchell JW, Swan TL, Wojak JC, Nikolic B, Midia M; Society of Interventional Radiology Standards of Practice Committee. Quality Improvement Guidelines for Percutaneous Image-Guided Management of the Thrombosed or Dysfunctional Dialysis Circuit. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2016 Oct;27(10):1518-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2016.07.015. Epub 2016 Sep 9. Review. — View Citation

Dixon BS, Novak L, Fangman J. Hemodialysis vascular access survival: upper-arm native arteriovenous fistula. Am J Kidney Dis. 2002 Jan;39(1):92-101. — View Citation

Han M, Kim JD, Bae JI, Lee JH, Oh CK, Ahn C, Won JH. Endovascular treatment for immature autogenous arteriovenous fistula. Clin Radiol. 2013 Jun;68(6):e309-15. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2013.01.005. Epub 2013 Mar 5. — View Citation

Haq NU, Albaqumi M. Accessory vein obliteration criteria for immature fistulae: a modest proposal for an old paradigm. Semin Dial. 2014 Sep-Oct;27(5):E51-4. doi: 10.1111/sdi.12239. Epub 2014 May 6. — View Citation

Lok CE, Oliver MJ, Su J, Bhola C, Hannigan N, Jassal SV. Arteriovenous fistula outcomes in the era of the elderly dialysis population. Kidney Int. 2005 Jun;67(6):2462-9. — View Citation

Lok CE. Fistula first initiative: advantages and pitfalls. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007 Sep;2(5):1043-53. Epub 2007 Aug 16. Review. — View Citation

Miller CD, Robbin ML, Allon M. Gender differences in outcomes of arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients. Kidney Int. 2003 Jan;63(1):346-52. — View Citation

Miller PE, Tolwani A, Luscy CP, Deierhoi MH, Bailey R, Redden DT, Allon M. Predictors of adequacy of arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients. Kidney Int. 1999 Jul;56(1):275-80. — View Citation

Nassar GM. Endovascular management of the "failing to mature" arteriovenous fistula. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 2008 Sep;11(3):175-80. doi: 10.1053/j.tvir.2008.09.004. Review. — View Citation

Patel ST, Hughes J, Mills JL Sr. Failure of arteriovenous fistula maturation: an unintended consequence of exceeding dialysis outcome quality Initiative guidelines for hemodialysis access. J Vasc Surg. 2003 Sep;38(3):439-45; discussion 445. — View Citation

Sidawy AN, Gray R, Besarab A, Henry M, Ascher E, Silva M Jr, Miller A, Scher L, Trerotola S, Gregory RT, Rutherford RB, Kent KC. Recommended standards for reports dealing with arteriovenous hemodialysis accesses. J Vasc Surg. 2002 Mar;35(3):603-10. Review. — View Citation

Sidawy AN, Spergel LM, Besarab A, Allon M, Jennings WC, Padberg FT Jr, Murad MH, Montori VM, O'Hare AM, Calligaro KD, Macsata RA, Lumsden AB, Ascher E; Society for Vascular Surgery. The Society for Vascular Surgery: clinical practice guidelines for the surgical placement and maintenance of arteriovenous hemodialysis access. J Vasc Surg. 2008 Nov;48(5 Suppl):2S-25S. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2008.08.042. Review. — View Citation

Turmel-Rodrigues LA. Mechanical enhancement of AVF maturation. J Vasc Access. 2014;15 Suppl 7:S55-9. doi: 10.5301/jva.5000232. Epub 2014 Apr 12. — View Citation

* Note: There are 17 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Fistula maturation rate	Proportion of patients with usable arteriovenous fistula at the end of the study (being able to deliver the prescribed dialysis dose 75% of the sessions in the first 4 weeks of use via 2 needles)	8 weeks after randomization

External Links

•   Fistula First National Vascular Access Improvements Initiative