Percutaneous arteriovenous fistula creation

Abstract

The first percutaneous systems used to create an arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2018 and included the Ellipsys and WavelinQ devices. Early results and longer-term studies of these catheter-based devices suggest that they offer important benefits and potentially improved outcomes in patients with appropriate anatomy. The deep communicating vein in the cubital fossa and its relationship to the proximal radial artery or proximal ulnar artery are key vascular elements of both systems. The devices differ significantly in technical design, energy source, imaging requirements, procedure times, catheters, access vessel sites, and techniques. We review the two approved percutaneous arteriovenous fistula devices, including technical considerations, selecting the appropriate patient, postoperative evaluation, interventions, outcomes, potential complications, and cannulation issues.