Balloon angioplasty for low-flow access.

The common mechanism for low access flow is intimal hyperplasia leading to stenosis within the access circuit. Balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, PTA) remains the mainstay of treatment despite multiple technologies introduced in the past. New technologies continue to be introduced in an effort to improve on outcomes of angioplasty. This article briefly reviews the use of and outcomes of PTA, technologies, past, present and future as well as some of the questions that remain unanswered with PTA.