Safety and efficacy of catheter-directed thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the background for--and mechanism of--catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT) accessed via the popliteal vein. Focus is on safety and efficacy.

METHOD: From the Copenhagen experience we have looked into the systematically registrated risk factors, peri- and postprocedure complications for patients consecutively treated from 1999 to 2006. The patients were treated in a clinical ward. The patients were followed yearly with ultrasonography for assessment of patency and valve function. Inclusion and exclusion criteria have been published earlier.

RESULTS: A total of 89 patients with 91 extremities with iliofemoral DVT were included (70 women and 19 men, mean age 29 years [range 14-59]). Only 11% of the patients were without any risk factor for DVT. CDT was performed without mortality and pulmonary embolism. Major bleeding occurred in two patients and minor bleeding in 27 patients, mostly from the puncture site. Stenting was necessary in 54 limbs. Five stents revealed occlusion, three procedural (2 reopened) and two late. The median follow-up was 87 months (range 17-148). At six years, 86% had competent iliofemoral (and popliteal) vein segment.

CONCLUSION: CDT of iliofemoral DVT is a safe procedure. The patients can stay in a clinical vascular ward. The long-term efficacy is still durable in producing competent veins as concluded in our earlier published results.