Mechanical Thrombectomy with Trerotola Compared with Catheter-directed Thrombolysis for Treatment of Acute Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis

Background Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is safe and effective in reducing thrombus burden. MT utilizing a percutaneous thrombectomy device confers a great advantage because it may reduce both the dose of the thrombolytic agent and the overall procedure time compared with a conventional catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT). We examined the results of MT using the Trerotola device and evaluated factors affecting patient outcome. Methods This retrospective study was performed using data from a database of patients who had undergone treatment for an acute iliofemoral DVT from January 2005 to December 2011, at 2 institutions. The patients' clinical characteristics and procedures were compared, and the outcomes of treatment with the Trerotola in the MT group were compared with those obtained with CDT. Results There were a total of 98 DVTs (left 76; right 22) in 90 patients (34 men); 53 DVTs were treated with MT and 45 with CDT. There were no statistical differences in the clinical characteristics among the MT with CDT, MT only and CDT group. Inferior vena cava filters were placed in 93 DVTs (95%), and iliac vein stenting was used in 64 (65%). Symptom improvement was seen in 78% (18 limbs) of the MT group, 80% (24 limbs) of the MT with CDT group, and 71% (32 limbs) of the CDT group ( P = 0.498). The procedure time was shorter in the MT with CDT group (18.2 ± 8.2 hr) or in the MT only group (2.7 ± 2.0 hr) compared with the CDT group (29.3 ± 9.4 hr; P