Combined pharmacomechanical thrombectomy with selective catheter-directed thrombolysis in patients with acute proximal deep vein thrombosis

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and the outcomes of combined percutaneous pharmacomechanical thrombectomy with selective catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis. METHODS: Between March 2018 and February 2020, a total of 37 patients (21 males, 16 females; mean age: 55±13.8 years; range, 21 to 79 years) with symptomatic acute iliofemoral vein thrombosis who underwent combined percutaneous pharmacomechanical thrombectomy and catheter-directed thrombolysis were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received a three-step therapy: (i) insertion of a temporary inferior vena cava filter, (ii) percutaneous pharmacomechanical thrombectomy via rotational mechanical thrombectomy device with an adjuvant 0.15 mg/kg recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator alteplase, and (iii) catheter-directed thrombolysis with continuous 1 mg/h tissue-type plasminogen activator alteplase. Data including demographic characteristics of the patients, bleeding complications, technical success, and adjuvant angioplasty rates were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate freedom from re-thrombosis at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up was calculated. RESULTS: The majority of the patients had left-sided (n=22, 59.4%) proximal deep vein thrombosis. Successful insertion of the inferior vena cava filter was achieved in 97.2% (n=36) of patients. The technical success rate was 89.1% (n=33). Adjuvant venous angioplasty was performed in four patients (10.8%) and no venous stents were used. No major bleeding was occurred, while minor bleeding was observed mostly in the form of hematuria (n=12, 32.4%). No mortality was observed. The 3, 6, and 12-month freedom from re-thrombosis rates were 96.3%, 92.6%, and 86.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combined percutaneous pharmacomechanical thrombectomy and catheter-directed thrombolysis seems to be an effective and safe treatment of the iliofemoral acute deep vein thrombosis with acceptable minor bleeding complications post-interventionally.