Long-term results in patients treated with thrombolysis, thoracic inlet decompression, and subclavian vein stenting for Paget-Schroetter syndrome

PURPOSE

In an effort to minimize long-term disability related to effort thrombosis of the subclavian vein, selected patients were treated with thrombolysis, thoracic inlet decompression, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), and subclavian vein stenting. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of patients treated with this algorithm.

METHODS

Between 1994 and 2000, 23 patients were evaluated with effort thrombosis of the subclavian vein. Thrombolysis was instituted on an average of 9.4 days (range, 1-30 days) after initial onset of symptoms. Average time to clot lysis was 34 hours (range, 12-72 hours). After immediate supraclavicular thoracic inlet decompression, all patients underwent PTA. Fourteen patients with residual vein stenosis (>50%) after PTA underwent stenting of the subclavian vein. Complications in this series included three wound hematomas that required drainage in two patients and one subpleural hematoma that required thoracotomy for decompression.

RESULTS

All patients who underwent PTA are patent, with a mean follow-up of 4 years (range, 2-6 years). In the veins treated with stents, 9 of 14 veins are patent, with a mean follow-up of 3.5 years (range, 1-6 years). Two veins had early occlusions (2 days); two veins occluded at 1 year; and seven veins occluded at 3 years. Three of the patients (including those patients who experienced the early failed procedures) were later identified with factor V Leiden. Early failures also had clot extending into the brachial vein.

CONCLUSION

Patients with short-segment venous strictures after successful lysis and thoracic outlet decompression may safely be treated with subclavian venous stents and can expect long-term patency.

Comparison of the angiojet rheolytic catheter to surgical thrombectomy for the treatment of thrombosed hemodialysis grafts. Peripheral AngioJet Clinical Trial

PURPOSE

To compare the clinical effectiveness of the AngioJet F105 rheolytic catheter to that of surgical thrombectomy for the treatment of thrombosed hemodialysis grafts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial comparing technical success, primary patency, and complication rates. A total of 153 patients were enrolled: 82 patients in the AngioJet group and 71 patients in the surgical thrombectomy group. Patient follow-up was performed 24-48 hours, 1 month, and 6 months after the procedures.

RESULTS

Technical success, as defined by the patient's ability to undergo hemodialysis treatment, was 73.2% for the AngioJet group and 78.8% for the surgical thrombectomy group (P = .41). The primary patency rates of the AngioJet group were 32%, 21%, and 15% at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively. The primary patency rates for the surgical group were 41%, 32%, and 26% at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively. This difference approached statistical significance (P = .053). The groups had similar complication rates-14.6% in the AngioJet group and 14.1% in the surgery group-although the surgery group had more major complications (11.3%). In the AngioJet group, there was a transient increase in plasma-free hemoglobin, which normalized within 24-48 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

The AngioJet F105 catheter provides similar clinical results when compared to surgical thrombectomy for the treatment of thrombosed hemodialysis grafts. The difference in patency rates between these two techniques approached statistical significance. In addition, results of both thrombectomy methods were inferior to those suggested by the Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines.

Combined use of iliac artery angioplasty and infrainguinal revascularization for treatment of multilevel atherosclerotic disease

The purpose of this report is to review our recent experience with the combined use of iliac artery angioplasty and infrainguinal surgical revascularization for the treatment of multilevel atherosclerotic disease. A retrospective review of all patients with multilevel atherosclerotic disease who were treated with both iliac artery angioplasty and infrainguinal bypass surgery during a 4-year period was performed. The medical records and preoperative arteriograms of all patients were reviewed for demographic information, radiologic findings, and postoperative follow-up data. Ninety-three limbs in 87 patients were studied. There were 57 male and 30 female patients with an average age of 67.2 years (range: 38-90). We concluded that the combined use of iliac artery angioplasty and infrainguinal surgical revascularization is an effective and durable means of treating multilevel atherosclerotic disease.

Rheolytic thrombectomy in the treatment of acute limb-threatening ischemia: immediate results and six-month follow-up of the multicenter AngioJet registry. Possis Peripheral AngioJet Study AngioJet Investigators

We tested the efficacy of rheolytic thrombectomy in treating 21 patients (mean age 68+/-12 years; 66% male) and 22 vessels (limbs) who presented to the hospital within 2 weeks of the development of limb-threatening ischemia. Fifty-two percent had contraindications to use thrombolytics, and 57% had severe comorbidities. All of the vessels were occluded with thrombus on the initial angiogram. Procedural success was achieved in 20 limbs (91%). Three patients expired in the hospital, and one expired at follow-up due to nonvascular causes. Acute limb salvage was achieved in 18 of 19 limbs (95%) in the 18 survivors, and 6-month limb salvage was achieved in 16 of 18 limbs (89%) in the 17 survivors. Rheolytic thrombectomy is effective in restoring immediate blood flow in acute limb-threatening ischemia, especially in high-risk surgical patients or patients with contraindications to thrombolytic therapy.