Endovascular treatment of dural sinus thrombosis with rheolytic thrombectomy and intra-arterial thrombolysis.
OBJECTIVE
Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare entity that can be difficult to manage. Intrasinus thrombolysis is an increasingly applied intervention, but this modality carries an increased risk of hemorrhage. We describe for the first time an option with a potentially lower incidence of intracranial bleeding, the combination of the AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy catheter with intra-arterial thrombolysis, in 2 patients with extensive dural sinus thromboses, preexisting intracranial hemorrhage, and severe progressive neurological deficits despite heparin therapy.


METHODS
Four procedures were performed in 2 patients with thromboses in the superior sagittal and transverse sinuses (right in 1 patient and bilateral in 1 patient) and cortical veins. Rheolytic thrombectomy was performed in the sigmoid, transverse, straight, and superior sagittal sinuses; this technique involves the use of the Bernoulli effect to create a vacuum that fragments and aspirates thrombus. For associated persistent cortical vein thromboses, low-dose intra-arterial thrombolysis was used.


RESULTS
Both patients had excellent angiographic results with sinus reopening after rheolytic thrombectomy and cortical vein reopening after intra-arterial thrombolysis. Follow-up CT showed no change in 1 patient and increased preexisting intracranial hemorrhage in the other. One patient had a negative hypercoagulable workup, and the other patient had probable anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome. At 6 months, both patients had excellent clinical outcome with no neurological deficits except mild short-term memory loss in 1 patient.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of rheolytic thrombectomy with intra-arterial thrombolysis is a treatment modality that allows accelerated recanalization of occluded dural sinuses and cerebral veins with lower doses of thrombolytic agents.
Chow
K
K
University of California Los Angeles Medical Center and School of Medicine, 90095-1721, USA.
Gobin
Y P
YP
Saver
J
J
Kidwell
C
C
Dong
P
P
Viñuela
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D020225:Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator