Changes in Regional Ventilation-Perfusion Match Following Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty for Arteriovenous Graft Thrombosis

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) often require arteriovenous grafts (AVG) for hemodialysis. AVG thrombosis is a common complication, usually managed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) to restore blood flow. PTA achieves patency by balloon-mediated compression and fragmentation of thrombus. Small thrombus fragments may enter the venous circulation and cause transient pulmonary microembolism, leading to ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. This study uses electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to noninvasively monitor short-term changes in regional ventilation and perfusion during and after PTA, exploring the immediate pulmonary physiological consequences of thrombus fragmentation and revascularization in dialysis patients.