title: Percutaneous mechanical thrombolysis. A comparative study of various rotational catheter systems.
abstract: In vitro fragmentation of thrombi was performed with the Kensey catheter, the Bildsoe catheter, the Günther aspiration catheter, and two modified aspiration catheters in a model circuit under femoral and pulmonary artery flow conditions. In the femoral artery model all tested catheters worked sufficiently: particles larger than 1000 microns in the effluent comprised only 1.27% +/- 0.46% of the initial thrombus weight. In the treatment of larger thrombi (pulmonary artery model), the action of rotational aspiration devices, and in particular of the Bildsoe catheter, was limited: fibrin filaments winding around the rotating tip led to catheter obstruction. The Kensey catheter yielded best results in the fragmentation of large thrombi.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum der RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmitz-Rode
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Günther
mesh_terms: D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008961:Models, Structural; D012399:Rotation; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*