Rescue thrombolytic treatment in patients with arteriovenous fistula for thrombosed hemodialysis

Abstract

Introduction: Hemodialysis continues to be the prevalent renal replacement therapy modality in the world. Arteriovenous fistula dysfunction for hemodialysis has negative effects on the patients and their quality of life, so functional vascular access is needed for adequate hemodialysis treatment in patients with end-stage renal disease. The greatest drawback of vascular access is its high incidence of thrombotic occlusion, caused by stenosis, which is initiated by hyperplastic lesions of the intimate layer of the vessel. One of the treatment modalities at the international level is the thrombolysis of the thrombosed vascular access of less than 24 hours of evolution.

Objective: To present the results obtained with the application of percutaneous thrombolysis of vascular access for thrombosed hemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Case presentation: Male patient of 52 years, with diagnosis of acute thrombosis of vascular access for hemodialysis due to end-stage renal disease, 5 days of evolution, with deterioration of his health state due to being sub-dialized and uremic, with exhaustion of the global vascular access for hemodialysis. Direct fibrinolytic treatment of percutaneous vascular access at 100 thousand IU/hour of Heberkinase® was used in 10 hours, with recovery of the heartbeat, thrill and repermeabilisation of the fistula for hemodialysis.

Conclusions: Fibrinolytic treatment with Heberkinase® allowed the recovery of the patient with acute thrombosis from the vascular access for hemodialysis. Complications associated with sub-dialysis and/or central catheter placement were avoided, and the patient was incorporated into their hemodialysis program, with guarantees for their quality of life.