PURPOSE: To evaluate the success rates, long-term patency rates and factors affecting the patency rates of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and thrombolysis in the management of insufficient access during hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1991 and March 1995, 37 insufficient shunts (23 native fistulae and 14 graft fistulae) were treated in 31 patients. PTA was performed in 24 shunts, and thrombolysis in13; in seven of these latter, thrombolysis was followed by PTA. The success and long-term patency rates of PTA and thrombolysis were evaluated. Shunts were subdivided according to a patient's age, type and age of the shunt, and number and length of the stenosis, and the degree of residual stenosis and in each subgroup, patency rates was compared. RESULTS: The overall success rate of PTA and thrombolysis for insufficient hemodialytic access was 78.4% (29/37). The success rates of PTA and thrombolysis were 91.7% (22/24) and 53.8% (7/13), respectively. The patency rates of PTA (85.7% at 6 months, 78.6% at 12 months, and 55.9% at 24 months) were superior to those of thrombolysis (100% at 6 months and 0% at 12 months) (p=.014). Patency rates in each subgroup were not significantly different (p>.05). CONCLUSION: The success and patency rates of PTA were superior to those of thrombolysis, and after PTA or thrombolysis, no factors affected patency rates.