Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Aneurysms arising from arteriovenous fistulae are a common finding among dialysed patients and pose a risk of acute bleeding. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the surgical options for the treatment of aneurysmal arteriovenous fistulae.
METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of articles published between January 1973 and March 2019 describing the surgical treatment of arteriovenous fistulae aneurysms. RESULTS: A total of 794 records were identified.
After duplicate and low quality studies were removed, 72 full text articles were reviewed and from these 13 were included in the meta-analysis. The total number of patients was 597.
Aneurysms were located in the upper arm in 289 (59%) cases and the smallest diameter of a treated aneurysm was 15 mm. The most frequent indication for treatment was bleeding prevention in 513 (86%) cases.
Aneurysmorrhaphy was the surgical method of choice in all 13 studies. The pooled primary patency at 12 months was 82% (95% CI 69%-90%, 12 studies, I = 84%, p < .01).
The 12 month primary patency rates were similar for aneurysmorrhaphy with external prosthetic reinforcement (85%, 95% CI 71%-93%, two studies, I = 0%, p = .33) and aneurysmorrhaphy performed using a stapler (74%, 95% CI 61%-83%, four studies, I = 0%, p = .48) and without a stapler (82%, 95% CI 60%-94%, six studies, I = 92%, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysmorraphy of arteriovenous fistulae is a procedure with acceptable short and long term results, with a low complication and aneurysm recurrence rate.