Arterial thrombosis below the inguinal ligament: percutaneous treatment with a thrombosuction catheter.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and clinical efficacy of using a thrombosuction catheter for treatment of arterial thrombosis below the inguinal ligament.


METHODS
The catheter was used in a consecutive group of 28 patients (10 women, 18 men; age range, 38-87 years; mean age, 66.7 years; with 11 native vessels and 17 grafts) with acute infrainguinal thrombosis. Initial local success, clinical success, and 30-day outcome were studied.


RESULTS
The initial local success rate was 82%. The clinical success rate was 73% for native vessels and 53% for grafts. The 30-day success rate was 73% for native vessels and 35% for grafts. Displacement of thrombotic material during the procedure resulted in a clinical complication in one patient. There were no bleeding complications. In 58% of all patients (n = 26), no lytic drug was used.


CONCLUSIONS
The thrombosuction catheter seems to be a safe, fast-acting alternative or supplement to local lysis therapy for infrainguinal arterial thrombosis.
Department of Radiology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
J A
JA
Reekers
J G
JG
Kromhout
H G
HG
Spithoven
M J
MJ
Jacobs
W M
WM
Mali
L J
LJ
Schultz-Kool
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation