The patients were 3 men and 7 women (mean age, 36 ± 15.9 [SD] years; range, 16-63 years). The patients had undergone hemodialysis for 2–12 years. All patients had a history of central vein catheterization. The mean time from central vein stenosis diagnosis to the procedure was 2 years. 

The occlusions were in the superior vena cava in three patients, the right brachiocephalic vein in five patients, and the left brachiocephalic vein in two patients. 

Technical success in crossing the stenosed site was achieved in all patients. The average number of attempts to cross the lesion with the modified technique was 2 (range 1-4). The mean measured length of the occluded central veins was 2.5 ± 1.2 cm (range, 1–4 cm). The mean procedure time was 180 ± 48.1 [SD] minutes (range, 120–240 minutes). No technical failures occurred. Minimal contrast leakage from the puncture track was observed in some failed attempts of cannulation, but no contrast leakage was present after angiographic control, or after stent deplyment (even though no specific meassures were taken to seal the false tract). No immediate or late, minor or major complications related to the recanalization procedure occurred.