Specialist Course on Shunts – Endovascular Techniques for Dialysis Access
26 June 2026
9.00 am–3.00 pm
Scientific Director: Tobias Steinke (Krefeld)
Speakers: Karl-Julius Büchner (Berlin), Leif Germaschewski (Krefeld), Axel Pflugradt (Bad Bevensen), Christoph Schröders (Mönchengladbach)
Objectives
Knowledge of:
- Various dialysis access modalities (a.v. fistula, prosthetic shunt, modified prostheses) and their haemodynamic properties
- Basic knowledge of the flow characteristics of arteriovenous shunts and how these change in the event of impaired shunt function (e.g. shunt-induced hand ischaemia, shunt dysfunction, non-maturation, recirculation)
- Puncture techniques for angiographic shunt visualisation
- Fundamentals of the procedure and interpretation of angiographic shunt visualisation
- Basic knowledge of alternative methods (e.g. CO₂ angiography, phlebo-MRI)
- Fundamentals of various technical options for dilatation balloons (e.g. cutting balloons, scoring balloons)
- Fundamentals of drug-coated balloons and an overview of the current evidence
- Technical options for endovascular shunt thrombectomy (e.g. lysis, aspiration, Angiojet) and indications based on current research
Practical applications (simulator) and case discussions on:
- Dilatation of shunt stenoses (including central stenoses) and catheter-assisted thrombectomies
- Stents and stent grafts
- Use of high-pressure, cutting and scoring balloons
- Hybrid procedures
Contents
| 09:00 – 09:20 | Welcome/introduction/presentation |
| 09:20 – 09:45 | Dialysis access modalities/flow characteristics of a.v. shunts |
| 09:45 | Endovascular AVF |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Break |
| 10:30 – 10:50 | Stent grafts in dialysis access |
| 10:50 – 11:10 | Technical possibilities of endovascular shunt thrombectomy |
| 11:10 | Procedure and interpretation of angiographic shunt imaging |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m | Case presentation with discussion round |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Basic knowledge of alternative methods: CO2/MR/CT |
| 12:30 – 13:15 | Break |
| 1:15 – 1:45 | Basics of various technical options for dilatation balloons |
| 1:45 – 2:00 | Introduction to models and simulators |
| 2:00 – 3:00 | Practical exercises at the workstations and simulators, case discussion |