Abstract

To evaluate the use of adjunctive mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with pharmacologic catheter-directed lower extremity venous thrombolysis.Catheter-directed thrombolysis with adjunctive MT was used to treat 28 symptomatic limbs in 20 patients (22 procedures) with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) between August 1997 and July 2001. Procedural success, major bleeding, thrombolytic infusion time, and total thrombolytic agent dose were recorded.Procedural success was achieved in 23 of 28 limbs (82%). Fifteen patients (18 limbs) received iliac vein stents. Major bleeding was observed after three of 22 procedures (14%) and resulted in transfusion in two patients and endometrial ablation in the third patient. Mean per-limb infusion time was 16.8 hours +/- 12.8. Mean per-limb total doses were lower than those reported in published studies of DVT thrombolysis: 2.67 million U +/- 1.60 urokinase, 18.4 mg +/- 10.7 tissue plasminogen activator, and 13.8 U +/- 6.9 reteplase. Venographic analysis demonstrated minimal thrombus removal (26.0% +/- 24.1) when using MT alone, compared with substantial thrombus removal (62.0% +/- 24.9) when using MT after pharmacologic thrombolytic agents had been administered (P =.006).The use of adjunctive MT to augment pharmacologic catheter-directed DVT thrombolysis provides comparable procedural success and may reduce the required thrombolytic dose and infusion duration.

View details for Web of Science ID 000178820700005

View details for PubMedID 12397121