Local thrombolysis and thromboaspiration in the treatment of acutely thrombosed arteriovenous hemodialysis fistulas.

Sixty-four thrombosed hemodialysis fistulas in 55 patients were treated by local low-dose infusion of urokinase, percutaneous angioplasty, and thromboaspiration. Lysis was initially successful in 38 cases (59%) without any negative side effects. At 1 year, 59% of these fistulas were still functional. When the procedures failed, surgery saved the vascular access in 17 cases. Local fibrinolysis combined with thromboaspiration and angioplasty provides a clinically useful means of access preservation.