Home Dr. Liu Riguang's Team at Guangzhou First People's Hospital Demonstrates Efficacy of Scoring Drug-Coated Balloon in Improving AVG Patency

Dr. Liu Riguang's Team at Guangzhou First People's Hospital Demonstrates Efficacy of Scoring Drug-Coated Balloon in Improving AVG Patency

Sep 16, 2025 17:21 CST Updated 17:22
DK Medtech

Vascular Interventional Balloon Product Developer

Image

AVGHyperplasia of the venous anastomosis is a leading cause ofAVGThe main cause of stenosis, currently recommended by multiple guidelines PTA As a treatmentAVGThe preferred method for stenosis. Dense fibrosis in the stenotic venous segment or scar hyperplasia at the puncture site makes it difficult to fully dilate some lesions with a balloon of normal pressure, especially for refractory stenosis and longer segmental stenosis, which are the main reasons for surgical failure and low patency rates. The reasons may be related to:PTA The irregular violent tearing of the balloon against the intimal and partial medial neotissue during the process leads to endothelial vascular injury and is related to the intense proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages. In recent years, there have been continuous international reports on the use of high-pressure balloons, scoring balloons, and drug-coated balloons for dialysis access.PTAExploration of treatments and clinical research, DK Medtech is professionally engaged in the research and development and production of vascular interventional medical products, focusing on balloon innovation and has developedDissolve AVScoring Drug-Coated Balloon, integrating "high pressure", "scoring", and "drug coating" into one, effectively addresses multiple hotspots and challenges in hemodialysis access stenosis.


DK MedtechSpecially launched[Guangzhou First People's Hospital - Professor Riguang Liu: Scored Drug-Coated Balloon Facilitates AVG Patency] Case Presentation, demonstrating the detailed operations of each case and the clinical application of advanced equipment and instruments. From the formulation of treatment strategies for different cases, standardized intraoperative procedures and technical applications, complication prevention, perioperative management, and other aspects, the aim is to promote the standardization of diagnosis and treatment for hemodialysis access stenosis, strengthen technical exchanges and experience sharing among doctors, with the hope of providing new ideas and methods for future hemodialysis access diagnosis and treatment, benefiting more clinical patients.


Image

Scored Drug-Coated Balloons Facilitate Better AVG Patency

Liu Riguang, Guangzhou First People's Hospital

Image

Basic Information  NO.1 

Basic Information:A 56-year-old female, on hemodialysis for 6 years, with a left upper arm AVG in use for 4 years.

Chief Complaint:Repeated thrombosis of the left upper arm AVG for more than 2 years, with increased venous pressure 3 days after PTA recanalization (admitted on 2023-6-13).

History of Present Illness:2023-6-5Left upper arm appearsAVGThrombosis, immediately treated with day surgery, inBUltrasound-guided urokinase thrombolysis+Balloon Dilation RecanalizationAVG, Intraoperative findingsAVGThe calcification at the puncture site and the arteriovenous anastomosis is more pronounced.

Past Medical History:History of hypertension7Year, no history of diabetes. History of uremia.7Year, started using peritoneal dialysis,1After the New Year, peritonitis occurred and hemodialysis was switched to until now. Initially, a long-term right internal jugular vein catheter was used for dialysis.2Year, due to poor catheter function at2019Year1Monthly Establishment of the Left Upper ArmAVG. Respectively in2021Year10Month,2023Year3Thrombosis occurred in the month, and urokinase thrombolysis was administered.+Balloon dilation recanalization.

Physical Examination:Left Upper Arm Brachial Artery-Axillary VeinCTypeAVG, Puncture site tumor-like dilation, palpable hard mass.AVGStrong pulsation at the puncture site, weak thrill.

Admission Diagnosis:Stenosis of the anastomosis of artificial blood vessels.

History of Vascular Access  NO.2 

Time

Main Treatment Process

April 2017

Long-term catheter in the right internal jugular vein

January 2019

Left Upper Arm Brachial Artery Axillary Vein C-Type AVG

October 2021

Thrombosis of the left upper arm AVG, initially treated with urokinase thrombolysis for recanalization, followed by PTA under B-mode ultrasound guidance.

March 2023

Thrombosis of the left upper arm AVG, ultrasound-guided urokinase thrombolysis + PTA

June 5, 2023

Thrombosis of the left upper arm AVG, ultrasound-guided urokinase thrombolysis + PTA

June 13, 2023

Increased venous pressure in the upper left arm AVG

Preoperative Analysis  NO.3 

Preoperative Analysis

  • Preoperative physical examination and color Doppler ultrasound evaluation suggest elastic recoil of the venous anastomosis leading to stenosis. Based on theoretical knowledge, this is considered to be caused by severe intimal hyperplasia at this site.

Surgical Goal

  • Main Objectives:Dilate the venous anastomosis to restore normal venous pressure and meet the requirements for dialysis;

  • Secondary Objectives:Extend AVG service life, fewer complications, fewer interventions.

Surgical Strategy/Plan

  • Balloon dilation under DSA guidance.

Equipment Preparation

  • Eight days ago, Bont High-Pressure Balloon 6*40mm dilation;

  • DK Medtech Scored Drug-Coated Balloon 7*60mm.

Surgical Procedure  NO.4 

Before dilation.

Image


DK Medtech scored drug-coated balloon 7*60mm, slowly pressurized to 20ATM, maintained expansion for 2min30s.

Image


Post-dilation imaging shows: Angiography reveals significant improvement in stenosis, with residual stenosis less than 30%.

Image

Follow-up  NO.5 

Discharge Status

  • After balloon dilation, the thrill of the AVG vessel significantly increased.

  • The patient was discharged on the same day and returned to the original dialysis institution for dialysis treatment using the AVG. Both blood flow and venous pressure were normal.

  • Telephone follow-up on January 3, 2024, the AVG was in use with normal blood flow and venous pressure.

Case Summary  NO.6 

Case Characteristics:AVG Venous Anastomotic Stenosis.

Preoperative Assessment Key Points:

  • The patient has been using AVG for over 4 years, and has repeatedly experienced thrombosis in the past six months, which is considered to be related to AVG calcification and venous anastomotic stenosis.

  • The nature of venous anastomotic stenosis may be directly related to the efficacy of using drug-coated balloons.

  • Angiographic evaluation before balloon dilation showed that the calcified segment was mainly limited to the AVG puncture site, and the venous anastomotic stenosis was still dominated by intimal hyperplasia.

Surgical Strategy/Technical Key Points:

  • The patient underwent balloon dilation 8 days ago, at which time a 6mm diameter balloon was used; using a larger diameter (1mm larger than the original balloon) may help reduce elastic recoil.

  • The use of paclitaxel-coated balloons helps to slow the speed of intimal hyperplasia and extend AVG patency.

Device Features / Usage Tips:

  1. Using a scored drug-coated balloon can eliminate the need for pre-treatment of the vascular lesion segment.

  2. After the balloon is opened, the pressure expansion state should be maintained for 2-3 minutes.

References:DK Medtech's Drug-Coated Balloon Catheter Launches RCT in China.

Effectiveness Evaluation:The original patient experienced AVG thrombosis every 3 months, requiring thrombolysis and balloon dilation treatment. After using the scored drug-coated balloon dilation treatment this time, it has been more than 7 months and the AVG is functioning well. The scored drug-coated balloon can indeed extend the life of the AVG.

Image

Expert Introduction

Image
Image

Professor Liu Riguang

Surgeon of This Case

Deputy Director of the Department of Nephrology, Director of the Blood Purification Center, and Director of the Dialysis Access Center at Guangzhou First People's Hospital; Chief Physician; Master’s degree. Undergraduate degree from Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Master’s degree from the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong. Specializes in the intervention and management of advanced chronic kidney disease, proficient in using various blood purification techniques to treat acute and chronic renal failure, with particular expertise in establishing vascular access for dialysis and managing various access-related complications.

Social Appointments: Vice Chairman of the Interventional Nephrology Group of the Guangdong Provincial Medical Association's Blood Purification Branch, Member of the Blood Purification Management Professional Committee of the Guangdong Hospital Management Association, Vice Chairman of the Blood Purification Professional Committee of the Guangdong Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Society, Vice Chairman of the Interventional Nephrology Branch of the Guangdong Biomedical Engineering Society, Vice Chairman of the Vascular Access Professional Committee of the Guangdong Grassroots Medical Association, Vice Chairman of the Guangzhou Medical Association's Blood Purification Branch, Standing Committee Member of the Guangzhou Medical Association's Nephrology Branch, Expert and Secretary of the Guangzhou Blood Purification Quality Control Center, etc.


Image

Professor Chen Haoxiong

Surgeon of This Case

Chief Physician of the Department of Nephrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, and Deputy Director of the Vascular Access Center, Guangzhou First People's Hospital,2003Graduated from the School of Clinical Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Zhongshan Medical College.

Vice Chairman of the Interventional Nephrology Professional Committee of the Nephrology Management Branch of the Guangdong Provincial Medical Industry Association, Member of the Youth Committee of the Nephrology and Dialysis Professional Committee of the China Non-Public Medical Institutions Association, Standing Committee Member of the Blood Purification Professional Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Society, Standing Committee Member of the Vascular Access Professional Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Grassroots Medicine Association, Standing Committee Member of the Nephrology Professional Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Health Management Association, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Medicine Association-Member of the First Committee of the Plasma Purification Professional Committee, Member of the Vascular Access Group of the First Committee of the Guangdong Medical Association's Hemopurification Branch, Member and Deputy Leader of the Access Group of the Guangzhou Medical Association's Hemopurification Branch, Expert of the Guangzhou Hemopurification Quality Control Center, and one of the Eighth "Good Doctors of Yangcheng".


Image

Department Introduction

Image
Image

       The Dialysis Access Center of Guangzhou First People's Hospital is one of the earliest centers in China to perform vascular access surgeries led by nephrologists. It serves as the deputy组长unit of the Interventional Nephrology Group under the Hemodialysis Branch of the Guangdong Medical Association, and the组长unit of the Dialysis Access Group under the Hemodialysis Branch of the Guangzhou Medical Association. The center is capable of performing a full range of dialysis access surgeries, including autologous arteriovenous fistula formation, arteriovenous graft bypass, establishment and maintenance of long-term catheters, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for fistula complications, peritoneal dialysis catheter placement, and interventional correction of displaced catheters.

Core Work Philosophy: Establish an appropriate access for every dialysis patient!

Central Work Phone:13168333911Welcome to call for consultation if needed!




Image