Aspiration mechanical thrombectomy in acute and subacute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis in the COVID era: challenges and outcome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) proved to be effective treatment in deep venous thrombosis (DVT), However, there is some concerns about the associated bleeding risk. We assessed the safety and efficacy including technical and clinical success in resolution of iliofemoral DVT after one session treatment with penumbra aspiration mechanical thrombectomy catheter as an alternative CDT. METHOD(S): This is a retrospective study that was conducted on patients presented to Aseer Central Hospital and Saudi German Hospital in Saudi Arabia from January 2019 to December 2020 with symptomatic acute iliofemoral DVT. Patients were treated with Indigo continuous aspiration mechanical thrombectomy 8 system (Penumbra Inc, Alameda, CA, USA). Secondary end point was treatment complications, DVT recurrence and postphlebetic syndrome occurrence within 1 year follow-up. RESULT(S): Our study included twenty-three patients with sixteen females (59.6%) and seven males (30.4%) with a median age of 38 years (18-60years). Indication for treatment was primary DVT in seventeen patients (73.9%), recurrent DVT in six patients (26.1%). Provoked DVT was present in fifteen patients (65.2%) with nine of them was tested positive for COVID-19 while non provoked DVT in eight patients (4.8%). Seven patients (30.4%) had underlying May-Thurner Syndrome after thrombus removal and needed stenting for left common iliac vein (CIV) and two patients (8.7%) with recurrent DVT has significant residual Left common iliac vein stenosis that needed stenting. Two patient (8.7%) have thrombosis extending to inferior vena cava. Initial technical success using Penumbra was 82.6%. All patients in whom aspiration thrombectomy was not successful underwent further treatment with CDT which was successful in further three cases with failure in one case making overall technical success was 95.7%. Recurrent iliac occlusion after successful recanalization was seen in two patients (8.7%) at 6 months follow up. One patient (4.3%) developed pulmonary embolism that required full anticoagulation with no further treatment. No patient develops postphlebetic syndrome at 1 year follow-up. CONCLUSION(S): Penumbra aspiration thrombectomy catheter was safe, effective and promising technique in treatment of acute iliofemoral DVT and allowed definitive treatment in one session with no need for the use of thrombolysis in the majority of cases with no risk for bleeding complications, shorter hospital stay, no need for ICU admission and lower cost. COVID infection does not seem to alter the outcome. Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA.