Trellis thrombectomy system for the treatment of iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the use of a new percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy device to clear thrombus from the iliofemoral vein.


METHODS
A 52-year-old woman with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presented to the emergency room with a posterior tibial vein deep vein thrombosis and a greater saphenous vein thrombosis. Heparin therapy caused the clot to propagate into the iliofemoral vein. Catheter-directed thrombolysis for 36 hours with 24 units of reteplase failed to clear the clot. The Trellis Thrombectomy System, a new percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy device, was used to deliver a low dose of reteplase into the clot. Complete clot lysis was achieved in 45 minutes using only 5 units of reteplase. The patient's symptoms resolved completely, and she continues to be asymptomatic at 6 months with no evidence of residual clot on duplex scans.


CONCLUSIONS
The Trellis device may be used to rapidly clear thrombus from the iliofemoral vein with a low dose of thrombolytic agent.
Ramaiah
Venkatesh
V
Department of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery, Arizona Heart Institute and Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona 85006, USA. vramaiah@azheart.com
Del Santo
Peter B
PB
Rodriguez-Lopez
Julio A
JA
Gowda
Ramesh G
RG
Perkowski
Paul E
PE
Diethrich
Edward B
EB
D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein; D008875:Middle Aged; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000601:surgery*