Ultrasound-assisted angioplasty for failing arteriovenous access Shahzad Sarosh Bulsara, Vinit Paliwal, Govind Prasad, NR Manjubharath, Ashutosh Aher, Ashish Airen, Tapish Sahu, Virender Sheorain, Tarun Grover, Rajiv Parakh Indian Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 2019 6(2):82-88 Introduction: Arteriovenous (AV) access maturity and patency is critical for patients on hemodialysis. Maintaining a functioning AV access for these patients is of paramount importance. Salvage of failing AV accesses has been traditionally done mainly with angiographic techniques requiring significant amounts of contrast agent and radiation exposure. Ultrasound-guided angioplasty has been described, but its utility needs to be further studied. Methods: Group 1: 42 patients undergoing ultrasound-assisted angioplasty (UAA) for AV access salvage were assessed prospectively for 9 months (October 2016 to June 2017). Group 2: Retrospective data of 47 patients who underwent angioplasty for failing AV access without ultrasound assistance, over 9 months was collected (January to September 2016). This group was matched with Group 1 in terms of age, sex, type of AV access, and cause of AV access dysfunction. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in the average number of angiographic runs (2.5 vs. 7.9) and fluoroscopy time in minutes (3.8 vs. 13.1) recorded during UAA (P < 0.01). The average quantity of contrast agent used in milliliters (17.6 vs. 49.8) was also significantly less when ultrasound assistance was used (P < 0.01). Conclusion: UAA for failing AV access reduces the radiation exposure and the amount of contrast agent used in these patients who require multiple of these sessions and need dialysis to get the contrast agent out of their circulation. This technique is feasible and reliable; hence should be used more frequently and effectively. Our model of UAA for AV access salvage allows all cases including complex cases to be performed with the added advantage of reduced radiation exposure and contrast agent; serving as a boon to these already distressed patients. Immediate complication management and adjunctive open procedures also become possible because of the hybrid operating room setup with fluoroscopy facility.