Stent graft versus balloon angioplasty for failing dialysis access grafts: a long-awaited advance in the treatment of permanent hemodialysis access.

Arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) for hemodialysis have a high failure rate, often due to the development of stenosis at the graft-to-vein anastomosis. Angioplasty (PTA) has been used for over two decades to treat AVG stenosis, with good technical success but limited AVG patency. Results of a prospective multi-center randomized trial, comparing stent graft to PTA in AVGs, has demonstrated superior access circuit patency for the stent graft group. Recent publication of this clinical study brings us into an exciting new era of dialysis access management using covered stents to improve durability of catheter-based therapy.