MILLER Banding Procedure for Treatment of Dialysis Access–Related Steal Syndrome, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Heart Failure

A Minimally Invasive Limited Ligation Endoluminal-assisted Revision (MILLER) banding procedure has been used for treating patients with dialysis access–related steal syndrome (DASS) and high-flow vascular access–related pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and heart failure (HF). We performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing the MILLER procedure performed for DASS, HF, and PHT from our Vascular Access Database from September 2017 to October 2019. Outcomes included primary patency of banding, primary assisted patency, and secondary patency, using time-to-event analyses with Kaplan-Meier curves and life tables to estimate 6- and 12-month rates. A total of 13 patients (6 men and 7 women, mean age 60 ± 14 years) underwent the MILLER procedure, 6 patients for DASS and 7 patients for pulmonary hypertension and heart failure (PHT/HF). Technical success was achieved in all patients. The longest duration of follow-up was 28 months (median 12 months [IQR 7, 19]). One patient died at 1 month after the intervention due to stroke. One patient developed access thrombosis of the graft 3 days after the procedure. Repeat banding was required in 1 patient 8 months after the first procedure. The 6-month primary patency rate of banding following this procedure was 83% while the 12-month rate was 66%. The 6- and 12-month secondary patency rates were 87% and 75%, respectively. The MILLER procedure can be performed for DASS and PHT/HF with improvement of symptoms and good long-term patency rates. Additional interventions to maintain patency and efficacy are required on long-term follow-up.