Recanalization of acute and subacute venous and synthetic bypass-graft occlusions with a mechanical rotational catheter

Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy using the Rotarex®S device for the treatment of acute lower limb artery embolism: A retrospective single-center, single-arm study

Objective

Acute limb embolism (ALE) is a challenging, highly morbid, and frequently fatal vascular emergency. Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) devices are an alternative treatment to restore perfusion by removing emboli in the limb arterial system. We evaluated the outcomes of treatment of ALE patients using PMT devices in our center.

Methods

A retrospective review of ALE patients treated with Rotarex S (Straub Medical) at a single institution from 2018 to 2022 was performed. The primary outcome was technical success, defined as complete recanalization of the occluded segment with satisfactory outflow and good capillary filling of the distal parts of the foot without any major or obstructing residual emboli or thrombi either in the treated segment or in the outflow tract without the need for additional catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) or conversion to open surgery. Embolized segments treated, treatment outcomes, and perioperative complications were reviewed.

Results

A total of 17 ALE patients (29% men, 71% women; mean age, 73 years) underwent PMT procedures. The femoral arteries and popliteal arteries are the most commonly treated vessels, with both present in 59% of the patients. The technical success rate was 100%, but the majority of cases (82%) had concurrent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or stent grafting, and two patients were treated with urokinase during the operation. There was one thrombotic recurrence that required amputation. There were no 30-day deaths. Complications included extravasation after PMT (two), intraoperative embolization of the outflow tract (one), access site hematoma (one), target artery thrombosis (one), and acute kidney injury (one). There were no severe bleeding complications.

Conclusions

The Rotarex S device has a satisfactory success rate, although complementary use of various adjunctive techniques is frequently required. It seems to be a moderately effective tool for treating ALE to avoid CDT or open surgery. The device appears safe, with low risks of amputation and mortality rates, but special attention should be given to the potential for extravasation and distal embolism.

Guide-Wired Helical Microrobot for Percutaneous Revascularization in Chronic Total Occlusion in-Vivo Validation

OBJECTIVE

For the revascularization in small vessels such as coronary arteries, we present a guide-wired helical microrobot mimicking the corkscrew motion for mechanical atherectomy that enables autonomous therapeutics and minimizing the radiation exposure to clinicians.

METHODS

The microrobot is fabricated with a spherical joint and a guidewire. A previously developed external electromagnetic manipulation system capable of high power and frequency is incorporated and an autonomous guidance motion control including driving and steering is implemented in the prototype. We tested the validity of our approach in animal experiments under clinical settings. For the in vivo test, artificial thrombus was fabricated and placed in a small vessel and atherectomy procedures were conducted.

RESULTS

The devised approach enables us to navigate the helical robot to the target area and successfully unclog the thrombosis in rat models in vivo.

CONCLUSION

This technology overcomes several limitations associated with a small vessel environment and promises to advance medical microrobotics for real clinical applications while achieving intact operation and minimizing radiation exposures to clinicians.

SIGNIFICANCE

Advanced microrobot based on multi-discipline technology could be validated in vivo for the first time and that may foster the microrobot application at clinical sites.

Mechanical rotational thrombectomy in long femoropopliteal artery and bypass occlusions: risk factors for periprocedural peripheral embolization

PURPOSE

We aimed to examine lesion characteristics influencing technical outcome and periprocedural peripheral embolization (PPE) during percutaneous mechanical rotational thrombectomy (PMT) of long femoropopliteal artery and bypass occlusions.

METHODS

Retrospectively, 65 consecutive patients (43 male patients, mean age 70±12 years; Rutherford category I-III), undergoing PMT (Rotarex®, Straub Medical AG) with acutely/subacutely occluded femoropopliteal arteries/bypasses were included. Occlusions (mean length, 217±98 mm) were treated by PMT followed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) plus drug-coated balloon or PTA plus stenting/stentgrafting. Technical success was defined as residual stenosis <30%. Follow-up included duplex ultrasound and ankle-brachial index (ABI) after 12 months. Endpoints were technical success, complications, improvement of Rutherford category, ABI, and patency (re-stenosis <50%). The influence of lesion length, duration, and thrombus density (measured in preinterventional computed tomography angiography) on technical success and PPE was analyzed.

RESULTS

Technical success was 18% (12/65) after PMT alone, 92% (60/65) after additional means. Four patients (6%) underwent bypass surgery and one patient (2%) amputation. PPE occurred in 11% (7/65). During the 12-month follow-up, three patients (5%) were lost to follow-up. ABI increased from baseline 0.5±0.12 to 0.81±0.14 (p = 0.001) and Rutherford category increased by at least one level in 57 patients at 12-month follow-up (clinical success, 88%). At 12 months, primary patency was 57.4% (95% CI, 45.8%-68.9%) and secondary patency was 75.0% (95% CI, 59.8%-72.3%). As risk factors for PPE, we identified lesion length >200 mm (15%; 6/39; OR 4.5; 95% CI, 0.5-40; p = 0.014) and thrombus density ≤45 HU (20%; 2/10; OR 3.0; 95% CI, 0.2-38.9; p = 0.05). No significant relation between risk factors and technical success was found.

CONCLUSION

PMT followed by PTA or implantation of stent (grafts) appears to be effective and safe for revascularization of acute/subacute long occlusions. Thrombus density <45 HU and lesion length above 20 cm represent risk factors for PPE during PMT.

Percutaneous Rotational Mechanical Atherectomy Plus Thrombectomy Using Rotarex S Device in Patients With Acute and Subacute Lower Limb Ischemia: A Review of Safety, Efficacy, and Outcomes

Acute and subacute ischemia of lower limbs is associated with high risk of amputation and potential severe life-threatening complications. Despite a lack of clear therapeutic recommendations, surgical treatments such as thrombectomy or bypass and/or catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) have been first-line procedures in both acute and subacute limb ischemia, but each therapy may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Such situations demand fast restoration of appropriate flow to preclude limb loss and other complications. Percutaneous mechanical atherectomy plus thrombectomy (MATH) represents a minimally invasive approach for quickly recanalizing thrombus-containing lesions whatever the age of thrombus. Indeed, many chronic patients can present with critical limb ischemia, with thrombus-containing occlusive lesions triggered by underlying atherosclerotic disease. MATH offers various advantages over surgery and CDT, with lower invasiveness, faster recanalization, and the possibility to immediately treat the underlying lesions, with a lower rate of bleeding complications and no need for intensive care unit stay. Currently, several mechanical thrombectomy devices are offered as an alternative therapy and can be divided into pure rotational MATH systems and rheolytic thrombectomy devices. The only pure rotational MATH device currently available on the market is the Rotarex S device. We aimed to review contemporary clinical data regarding the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of MATH therapy using Rotarex S catheter in acute and subacute thrombus-containing arterial lesions of lower limbs. Future perspectives of Rotarex S MATH treatment and cost-effectiveness of its routine use will be also discussed.

Treatment of bypass failure in patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia – open surgery vs. percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy

Summary: Background: Lower limb bypass occlusion in patients with chronic limb threating ischemia remains a challenge. We can choose between different treatment options: open surgery, local thrombolysis, thrombectomy/atherectomy devices. In this pilot study, we compare clinical outcomes and treatment costs between open surgery (OS) and percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (pMTH). Patients and methods: This pilot study represents a retrospective analysis of hospital data of 48 occluded bypasses admitted from 2013 to 2018. Only patients presenting with severe ischemia and recrudescence of symptoms (Rutherford 4–6) were included in the current analysis. Two cohorts of patients were analysed: patients who underwent OS and patients that underwent pMTH. Primary clinical outcomes were one-year cumulative patency and limb salvage rates. Total cost was calculated as a sum of intra- and post-operative costs. To weigh clinical benefits against the economic consequences of OS versus pMTH a cost-effectiveness framework was adopted. Results: We analysed a series of 48 occluded bypasses 17 treated with open surgery and 31 with pMTH. Procedural success was 100% in both groups. When comparing one-year death rates ( p-value = .22) and re-occlusion rates ( p-value = .43), no statistically significant differences were observed between the two cohorts. Mean patency duration in the surgery cohort was significantly shorter ( p-value < .05). Primary patency (OS 41.2% vs. pMTH 48.4%) and limb salvage rate (OS 88.2% vs. pMTH 90.3%) at one year are similar in both groups. The total cost of surgery was substantially higher (OS 10,159€ vs. pMTH 8,401€) Conclusions: This pilot study, although limited to 48 occluded bypasses, demonstrates that endovascular treatment with pMTH is less invasive, less time consuming and less expensive, and produces greater health benefits than traditional OS.

Mechanical rotational thrombectomy with Rotarex system augmented with drug-eluting balloon angioplasty versus stenting for the treatment of acute thrombotic and critical limb ischaemia in the femoropopliteal segment

Introduction

Mechanical thrombectomy is an alternative to local thrombolysis for the treatment of severe ischaemia in the femoropopliteal segment, but stent implantation is usually required after this procedure. The use of drug-eluting balloons (DEBs) may overcome long-term problems associated with stents, but it remains unclear how often such a treatment is technically feasible and efficient.

Aim

This post hoc single-centre study was aimed at assessment of the feasibility, safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy followed by application of DEBs.

Material and methods

Fifty-one patients, aged 69.1 ±11.6 years, were managed for acute thrombotic or chronic critical ischaemia in the femoropopliteal segment using the Rotarex device. Following mechanical thrombectomy, on condition that there was no significant residual stenosis or dissection, lesions were managed with paclitaxel-coated DEBs, which was a desired strategy (24 patients). The remaining 25 patients underwent stent implantations, which was regarded as bailout treatment. Final follow-up was scheduled 12 months after the procedure.

Results

The primary-assisted patency rate after mechanical rotational thrombectomy with additional balloon angioplasty and/or stenting was 97.1% (49 patients). The early mortality rate was 2.0% (1 patient) and the amputation rate was 4.1% (2 patients). There were no late mortalities or limb amputations at 12-month follow-up, but significant restenoses occurred in 13 (27.1%) patients. These restenoses were more frequent in patients who underwent stent implantation (45.5%) than those managed with DEBs (12.5%), and in patients managed for secondary lesions.

Conclusions

In selected patients mechanical rotational thrombectomy in the femoropopliteal segment followed by application of DEB is a safe, effective and long-lasting method of revascularisation.

Prospective Single-Arm Trial of Endovascular Mechanical Debulking as Initial Therapy in Patients With Acute and Subacute Lower Limb Ischemia: One-Year Outcomes

Purpose: To report the results of a prospective, single-arm study to establish whether the initial treatment of acute or subacute limb ischemia (ALI and SLI, respectively) can be accomplished successfully using endovascular mechanical debulking of the target vessels to avoid the risks associated with thrombolysis and/or open surgery. Materials and Methods: From April 2009 to April 2015, 316 consecutive patients (mean age 70.9±12 years; 184 men) with ALI (202, 63.9%) or SLI (114, 36.1%) were enrolled; the only exclusion criterion was irreversible ischemia. The ALI group included 146 (72.3%) participants with category IIb ischemia and 56 (27.7%) with category IIa. Critical limb ischemia was diagnosed in 74 (64.9%) of the 114 patients with SLI. Target occlusions of thrombotic (n=256) or embolic (n=60) origin were located in the femoropopliteal segment (n=231), prosthetic or venous femoropopliteal bypass grafts (n=75), and the aortoiliac segment (n=35). The mean occlusion length was 22.9±14.8 cm. Results: The overall technical success (residual stenosis ≤30%) was 100% after debulking and adjunctive techniques (aspiration, dilation, stenting) at the level of the target lesions. No open surgical or thrombolytic modalities were necessary to bypass or recanalize the target vessels, and no death occurred in association with target occlusion therapy. Additional infrapopliteal interventions were performed in 195 (61.7%) patients (adjunctive thrombolysis in 29) to treat acute, subacute, and chronic lesions. Minor complications directly related to the debulking procedure occurred in 26 (8.2%) patients. Serious complications occurred in 11 (3.5%) patients, including hemorrhage in 8 (2.5%) patients (associated with infrapopliteal thrombolysis in 5). At 30 days, primary and secondary patency rates were 94.3% and 97.2%, respectively; mortality was 0.3% (1 fatal intracranial hemorrhage after adjunctive thrombolysis). Of 229 patients eligible for 1-year follow-up, amputation-free survival was estimated to be 87.4% in 199 patients with available data. Conclusion: In this all-comers study, mechanical debulking with the Rotarex alone or with adjunctive techniques is feasible as a primary therapy for occluded supratibial vessels in patients with ALI or SLI.

Rotarex Mechanical Debulking in Acute and Subacute Arterial Lesions

Introduction:

Data regarding the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) in contemporary routine care are scarce.

Materials and Methods:

Consecutive patients undergoing PMT of native lower limb acutely/subacutely occluded arteries were included.

Results:

In all, 525 consecutive patients were available for analysis with a mean age of 66.7 ± 10.7 years. Almost two-third (n = 324; 61.7%) were men with acutely (n = 211; 40.2%) or subacutely (n = 314; 59.8%) occluded lesions presenting mostly in Rutherford-Becker category (RBC): 3 (30.3%) and 4 (47.6%). Mean lesion length was 159 mm (range 22-279 mm), with moderate and severe calcification in 119 (23.3%) lesions. PMT was performed solely in 161(27.2%), PMT + balloon angioplasty in 232 (39.1%), provisional stenting in 169 (28.4%), and thrombolysis in 77 (13.9%) interventions. Procedural technical success rate was 97.7%, with improvement in RBC persisting in 74.1% of patients after 12 ± 2.4 months mean time follow-up. Overall 30 days major adverse events (MAEs) was 6.9% with a mortality rate of 1.1%. No death was directly related to the device. After 12 months, a promising overall target lesion revascularization (TLR; 10.1%), non-TLR (6.6%), and major amputation rates (2.3%) were found. One-year mortality was 8%.

Conclusion:

Treatment with PMT resulted in clinic and hemodynamic improvement in the majority of patients, thereby reducing the need for thrombolysis in a significant proportion of patients. Prospective studies in this issue are recommended.

Mechanical thrombectomy using Rotarex system and stent-in-stent placement for treatment of distal femoral artery occlusion secondary to stent fracture - a case report and literature review

Background:

Treatment of peripheral arterial diseases may be distinguished into conservative and interventional management; the latter is divided into surgical and endovascular procedures. Management of peripheral artery stenosis and occlusion with vascular stents is associated with the risk of late complications such as restenosis, stent fracture or dislocation.

Case Report:

A 62-year-old woman with generalized atherosclerosis, particularly extensive in lower limb arteries, was admitted to the Department of Angiology 11 months after having an endovascular procedure performed due to critical ischemia of left lower limb. Because of stent occlusion, a decision to perform angiographic examination of lower limb arteries was made. Examination revealed occlusion of the superficial femoral artery along its entire length, including previously implanted stents. Distal stent was fractured with slight dislocation of the proximal segment. A decision was made to perform mechanical thrombectomy using a Rotarex system followed by a stent-in-stent placement procedure. Follow-up angiography and ultrasound scan performed 24 hours after the procedure revealed a patent vessel with satisfactory blood flow.

Discussion:

Nowadays, imaging diagnostics of peripheral artery stenosis involves non-invasive examinations such as ultrasound, minimally invasive examinations such as angio-MRI and MDCT, or invasive examinations such as DSA and IVUS. DSA examinations are used to confirm significant stenosis or occlusion of a vessel, particularly when qualifying a patient for endovascular treatment. Due to their anatomic location, the superficial femoral artery and the popliteal artery are subject to various forces e.g. those exerted by the working muscles. Mechanical thrombectomy and atherectomy are efficient methods of arterial recanalization used in the treatment of acute, subacute or even chronic occlusions or stenosis of peripheral vessels.

Conclusions:

Frequency of angioplasty and vascular stent implantation procedures is increased in patients with peripheral arterial disease, thus increasing the incidence of reported early and late complications such as acute stent thrombosis, restenosis and stent fractures. The Rotarex transcutaneous mechanical thrombectomy system is an efficient method of treating occlusions in arterial stents. It is also safe when performed by experienced operators.