Effectiveness of pigtail catheter crushing combined with AngioJet mechanical aspiration for treatment of acute left iliofemoral vein thrombosis

Background/objectiveWe investigated the efficacy of combined pigtail catheter crushing and AngioJet mechanical aspiration of thrombi in the treatment of acute iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT).MethodsEighty-two patients with acute iliofemoral DVT were retrospectively divided into a pigtail catheter + AngioJet group (group A, 42 cases) and an AngioJet-only group (group B, 40 cases). The difference in the circumference of the healthy limbs before and after treatment, immediate thrombus clearance rate in the lower limbs, recannalization percentage of venous lumen, and duration of postoperative hematuria were compared to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the combination method.ResultsThe technical success rate was 100%, no serious bleeding complications occurred, lower extremity symptoms were effectively alleviated, and post-treatment recannalization percentage of venous lumen were similarly high in both groups. Group A fared significantly better than group B in immediate thrombus clearance (P < 0.05), intraoperative aspiration time (199.38 ± 68.55 vs. 295.30 ± 76.02 s), postoperative CDT urokinase dosage (2.10 ± 0.94 vs. 3.07 ± 0.94 million units), and duration of postoperative hematuria (13.23 ± 2.96 vs. 16.75 ± 3.11 h) (all P < 0.001). At 6 months, the recannalization percentage of venous lumen of group A and group B was 89.71 ± 16.02% and 88.64 ± 16.68%, respectively.ConclusionThe combination of pigtail catheter crushing and AngioJet mechanical aspiration of thrombi for acute left iliofemoral vein thrombosis is safe, easy, and effective, with a satisfactory short-term outcome.