Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy versus thrombolysis in patients with iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This study sought to compare effectiveness and safety of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) and thrombolysis alone (THR) in patients with acute or subacute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (IfDVT). Patients and methods: Observational and randomized trials, published between January 2001 to February 2019 were identified by searching MEDLINE. Studies on deep venous thrombosis (DVT) treated with either THR or PMT adjunctive to conventional anticoagulation and compressive intervention were included. Meta-analysis of proportions was conducted to assess effectiveness outcomes of successful lysis and primary patency, post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), valvular reflux, recurrent DVT, as well as safety outcomes of major bleeding, hematuria, and pulmonary embolism. Results: Of 77 identified records, 17 studies including 1417 patients were eligible. Pooled proportion of successful lysis was similar between groups (THR: 95 % [I2 = 68.4 %], PMT 96 %, [I2 = 0 %]; Qbet [Cochran's Q between groups] 0.3, p = 0.61). However, pooled proportion of 6-month primary patency was lower after THR than after PMT (68 % [I2 = 15.6 %] versus 94 %; Qbet 26.4, p < 0.001). Considerable heterogeneity within groups did not allow for between-group comparison of PTS and recurrent DVT. Major bleeding was more frequent after THR than after PMT (6.0 % [I2 = 0 %] versus 1.0 % [I2 = 0 %]; Qbet 12.3, p < 0.001). Incidence of hematuria was lower after THR as compared to PMT (2 % [I2 = 56 %] versus 91.3 % [I2 = 91.7 %]; Qbet 714, p < 0.001). Incidences of valvular reflux and pulmonary embolism were similar across groups (THR: 61 % versus PMT: 53 %; Qbet 0.7, p = 0.39 and THR: 2 % versus PMT: 1 %; Qbet 1.1, p = 0.30, respectively). Conclusions: In patients with iliofemoral DVT, percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy was associated with a higher cumulative 6-month primary patency and a lower incidence of major bleeding compared to thrombolysis alone. Risk of hemolysis from mechanical thrombectomy needs further consideration.

Venovo venous stent for treatment of non-thrombotic or post-thrombotic iliac vein lesions - long-term efficacy and safety results from the Arnsberg venous registry.

Background: Endovascular venous stenting with dedicated venous stents for the treatment of chronic venous outflow obstruction is developing as efficacious alternative to conservative therapy or open surgery. However, so far, mid- and long-term evidence on effectiveness and safety is poor. Patients and methods: The prospective, single-center, observational study enrolled consecutive patients with chronic non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVL) or post-thrombotic iliofemoral obstructions (PTO). From February 2016 to April 2017, patients underwent implantation of open cell, self-expandable dedicated venous stents. Short-term symptomatic improvement, patency, and complication rate were favorable. Evaluation at 2-years included improvement in the revised venous clinical severity score (rVCSS), patency, stent migration, major target limb events, clinically important pulmonary embolism, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 79 patients (57 ± 16 years, 44 female) were evaluated. At 2 years, rVCCS improved by 4.3 ± 2.7 (p < 0.001). Substantial clinical improvement of ≥ 2 score points was achieved in 86.4% (38 of 44) of patients. Improvement was not associated with thrombotic pathogenesis (regression coefficient [B] with PTO = 0.6 [95%CI: -1.1 to 2.3], p = 0.48). At 2 years, all ulcers (in 8 of 79 patients) were healed and none recurred. Two-year primary patency was 95.5% (95%CI: 86.5 to 98.5) with no difference between NIVL- and PTO-patients (log-rank p = 0.83). Target vessel revascularization was conducted in two PTO- and one NIVL-patients in the period of 34 days to 156 days from index procedure, resulting in a secondary patency of 100%. No stent migration, target limb deep vein thrombosis, major amputation, pulmonary embolism, or death occurred. Conclusions: Venovo venous open cell self-expanding stent implantation for chronic outflow obstruction was efficacious and provided a sufficient level of safety throughout 2 years.

[Endovascular Recanalization of Chronic Venous Outflow Obstructions]. / Endovenöse Rekanalisationen von chronischen Beckenvenenverschlüssen.

Approximately 60 % of patients with acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis recover without further symptoms. However, 40 % will have some degree of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) and 4 % will develop severe PTS. PTS is the most common complication; it reduces quality of life and increases DVT-related costs. The clinical symptoms and severity of PTS may vary; the most common symptoms include edema, pain, hyperpigmentation, lipodermatosclerosis, and ulceration. PTS is based on the principle of outflow obstruction, may be caused by venous hypertension, and may lead to valvular damage and venous reflux or insufficiency. A significant lumen reduction within the iliac vein system is defined by an aspect ratio ≥ 2. Recent technical developments and new dedicated venous stent techniques now give the opportunity to recanalize even complex venous outflow obstructions. First in man safety and efficacy data are very promising for the new dedicated venous stents, but long-term data are still missing.

Venovo venous stent in the treatment of non-thrombotic or post-thrombotic iliac vein lesions - short-term results from the Arnsberg venous registry.

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the patency and clinical symptom relief of the Venovo venous stent in the endovascular treatment of non-thrombotic (NIVL) or post-thrombotic venous obstruction (PTO) of the iliofemoral track over a period of 6 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients (45 female, mean age 57 years) treated in 2016 and 2017 were included in the Arnsberg venous registry. Clinical improvement was determined by the revised venous clinical severity score (rVCSS) as well as the clinical, etiologic, anatomic and pathophysiologic (CEAP) score. Primary and secondary stent patency was evaluated using duplex ultrasound. RESULTS: Overall 6-months patency rates were 98 % for primary and 100 % for secondary patency. For NIVL primary patency was 97 %, whereas for PTO primary patency was 96 %. Early stent re-occlusion occurred in 3 patients within 34, 59 and 156 days after intervention. Two of these patients were successfully treated by endovascular mechanical thrombectomy and stent in stent implantation. Clinical improvement with a gain of ≥ 2 rVCSS levels was observed in 51 %. CEAP scores decreased from 4.3 to 2.7. CONCLUSIONS: In this first time report the novel Venovo venous stent showed adequate patency rates associated with reasonable clinical improvement and low device-related complications throughout a 6-months-follow-up in both NIVL and PTO.

[Recanalization techniques for venous outflow obstruction]. / Endovaskuläre Rekanalisation von Beckenvenenverschlüssen.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is associated with a high cost burden for health care systems because of secondary cost intensive complications like pulmonary embolism and especially the post thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The current standard therapy of anticoagulation for DVT therapy has not changed through the years leaving patients especially with iliofemoral vein thrombus on a high-risk situation for developing PTS. Current study situation for endovascular treatment of iliofemoral DVT treatment gives a rationale for active thrombus removal using catheter directed therapy (CDT) or pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (PMT) which improves valvular vein function and luminal patency reducing the potential complication of PTS. For patients with chronich obstruction of the iliac vein system dedicated venous stents and recanalization techniques are today available.