DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS

The Role of Thrombectomy and Thrombolysis in Leg and Pelvic DVT treatment

Discover how VIE’s minimally invasive thrombectomy and thrombolysis procedures can effectively remove or dissolve blood clots, restoring blood flow and reducing the risk of complications in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Definition

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious medical condition when blood clots form within the deep veins, typically in the legs or pelvis. These clots can cause pain, swelling, and even life-threatening complications like pulmonary embolism (PE) if they travel to the lungs. At VIE, our team of vascular specialists is dedicated to providing timely and effective treatment for DVT, including minimally invasive procedures like thrombectomy and thrombolysis, to remove or dissolve blood clots and restore proper blood flow.

Risk Factors

Prolonged immobilization
Surgery
Pregnancy

Symptoms

While DVT often presents with symptoms such as leg pain, swelling, and redness, it can also be asymptomatic. This highlights the importance of identifying high-risk individuals and considering prompt intervention, especially if symptoms arise.

The most concerning complication of DVT is PE, which occurs when a clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs, blocking blood flow and potentially causing shortness of breath, chest pain, and even death. Early diagnosis and treatment of DVT are crucial for preventing PE.

Treatment and Benefits

DVT Treatment Options

At VIE, our multidisciplinary team develops personalized treatment plans for DVT patients, which may include:

Anticoagulant medications: These medications help prevent existing clots from growing larger and reduce the risk of new clot formation.
Thrombectomy: A minimally invasive procedure that uses a catheter and specialized devices to remove blood clots from blocked veins. There are two main types of thrombectomy used for DVT. Catheter-directed thrombectomy (CDT) uses a thin, flexible catheter inserted into a vein and navigated to the location of the clot. Once in place, specialized tools like balloons or retrieval baskets break up and remove the clot. Or, in rare cases, a traditional surgical approach may be necessary to access and remove a large or complex clot.
Thrombolysis: A procedure that involves administering clot-busting medications directly into the affected vein through a catheter to break down and dissolve the clot, allowing blood flow to resume.

Our team of vascular specialists carefully assesses several factors to determine the most appropriate treatment approach for each patient, including:

Severity and location of the clot
Patient’s overall health status and risk of bleeding
Potential benefits and risks of each procedure

Benefits and Risks of Clot Removal

Thrombectomy and thrombolysis offer potential benefits for DVT patients, such as:

Improved blood flow and symptom relief
Reduced risk of PE
Faster recovery compared to solely relying on anticoagulation medication

However, these procedures also carry some risks, including:

Bleeding, particularly in patients already taking blood thinners
Catheter-related complications, such as blood vessel damage or infection
Allergic reactions to thrombolytic medications

If you suspect that you may have DVT or are at high risk for developing this condition, don’t wait to seek expert care. We are committed to providing accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans to improve your vascular health and overall well-being.

REFERENCES

Kearon, C., Akl, E. A., Comerota, A. J., Prandoni, P., Bounameaux, H., Goldhaber, S. Z., … & Kahn, S. R. (2016). Antithrombotic therapy for VTE disease: CHEST guideline and expert panel report. Chest, 149(2), 315-352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2015.11.026
Vedantham, S., Goldhaber, S. Z., Julian, J. A., Kahn, S. R., Jaff, M. R., Cohen, D. J., … & Razavi, M. K. (2017). Pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis for deep-vein thrombosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(23), 2240-2252. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1615066
Comerota, A. J., Kearon, C., Gu, C. S., Julian, J. A., Goldhaber, S. Z., Kahn, S. R., … & Vedantham, S. (2022). Endovascular thrombus removal for acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis: Final results of the acute venous thrombosis: Thrombus removal with adjunctive catheter-directed thrombolysis (ATTRACT) trial. Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, 15(2), e010645. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.121.010645

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS

The Role of Thrombectomy and Thrombolysis in Leg and Pelvic DVT treatment

Definition

Risk Factors

Symptoms

Treatment and Benefits

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