Effectiveness and Safety of Percutaneous Thrombectomy Devices: Comparison of Rotarex and Angiojet in a Physiological Circulation Model

Dual-Frequency Ultrasound Assisted Thrombolysis in Interventional Therapy of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the main causes of disability and death worldwide. Currently, the treatment of DVT still needs a long time and faces a high risk of major bleeding. It is necessary to find a rapid and safe method for the therapy of DVT. Here, a dual-frequency ultrasound assisted thrombolysis (DF-UAT) is reported for the interventional treatment of DVT. A series of piezoelectric elements are placed in an interventional catheter to emit ultrasound waves with two independent frequencies in turn. The low-frequency ultrasound drives the drug-loaded droplets into the thrombus, while the high-frequency ultrasound causes the cavitation of the droplets in the thrombus. With the joint effect of the enhanced drug diffusion and the cavitation under the dual-frequency ultrasound, the thrombolytic efficacy can be improved. In a proof-of-concept experiment performed with living sheep, the recanalization of the iliac vein is realized in 15 min using the DF-UAT technology. Therefore, the DF-UAT can be one of the most promising methods in the interventional treatment of DVT.

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.

Safety and Efficacy of Rotational Thrombectomy for Treatment of Arterial Occlusions of the Lower Extremities: A Large Single-Center Retrospective Study

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of rotational thrombectomy (RT) in a large single-center real-world cohort for total vascular occlusions of the lower extremity.

Materials and Methods The clinical records and images of all patients between 2010 and 2020 treated via RT (Rotarex, BD) were assessed. Patient demographics, clinical data, procedural characteristics, and outcome parameters were documented. In total, 397 procedures in 293 patients were included (mean age 69.8 ± 12.0 years; 64.8 % male). Occlusions were acute (47.5 %), subacute and acute-on-chronic (22.2 %), and chronic (30.3 %). The target lesions were the iliac artery (7.1 %), iliac/femoropopliteal (5.0 %), femoropopliteal (59.4 %), femoropopliteal/below-the-knee (27.0 %), below-the-knee (1.5 %), and after bypass surgery (14.9 %). Lesion length was > 20 cm in 61.5 % of cases.

Results Clinically successful revascularization was achieved in 90.4 % of cases. Additional thrombolysis was necessary for 32.0 % of procedures. The arithmetic mean ankle-brachial index increased from 0.33 ± 0.29 to 0.81 ± 0.25 (p < 0.0001). Bypass grafts were less likely to be fully treatable and required additional lysis (p < 0.001). The overall primary patency (no clinically driven target lesion revascularization) was 93.2 %, 88.8 %, 79.1 %, and 72.4 % at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Adverse events occurred in 46.1 % of cases, of which peripheral embolization (22.4 %) was most frequent, requiring interventional treatment in 67.4 % of cases. RT was directly associated with 7.1 % (n = 28) of complications, which consisted of perforations 2.8 %, arteriovenous fistula 1.3 %, and dissections 2.0 %.

Conclusion Rotational thrombectomy is a safe and efficient method for the treatment of occlusions of the arterial circulation of the lower extremity with bypass occlusions having a higher propensity for residual thrombi requiring further lysis therapy.

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Percutaneous Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Limb Ischemia With Aorto-iliac Occlusion

Background

To evaluate the outcomes of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) with Rotarex catheter in patients with acute lower limb ischemia (ALI) caused by aorto-iliac occlusion.

Materials and Methods

Data of patients with ALI caused by aorto-iliac occlusion in our institutions from January 2010 and April 2020 were reviewed. The primary end point was limb salvage rate. The secondary end points included technical success rate, survival rate, complications after the operation and during the follow-up.

Results

A total of 85 patients with ALI was diagnosed with aorto-iliac occlusion. Thirty-eight patients were treated by PMT with Rotarex catheter and enrolled in present study. Twenty-four were male (63.2%), and 14 were female (36.8%). The mean age was 66 years (range 28–83). All 38 patients were treated with PMT, with additional catheter directed thrombolysis (2/38, 5.3%), balloon angioplasty (8/38, 21.1%) and stent deployment (7/38, 18.4%). The mean procedure time was 123 ± 31 min. Seven patients (18.4%) underwent continuous renal replacement therapy. Two patients received major amputations (above the knee) and 2 patients died for renal insufficiency and heart failure during the hospital stay. Thirty-day survival rate was 94.7% and limb salvage was 94.4%. The mean follow-up time was 14.0 months (8–22 months). There was no major amputation and target artery occlusion occurred during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

PMT with Rotarex catheter could be new option for acute aorto-iliac occlusion, leading to safe and effective results.

Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in the management of early acute superior mesenteric artery embolism

PURPOSE

This study was performed to summarize our experience in the management of early-stage acute superior mesenteric artery embolism (ASMAE) by percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT).

METHODS

The clinical data of 12 patients with early-stage ASMAE treated by PMT in our institution from November 2019 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients had no obvious evidence of bowel infarction as shown by peritoneal puncture and computed tomography angiography. Thrombectomy of the superior mesenteric artery was performed using a 6F AngioJet catheter.

RESULTS

The emboli were completely removed in 10 (83.3%) patients. Six patients were treated only by the AngioJet device. The other six patients underwent combined treatment with a 6F multipurpose drainage catheter after PMT, including one patient who underwent simultaneous stent implantation. Two patients showed no significant improvement in their symptoms after the operation; one was found to have intestinal necrosis and underwent resection by exploratory laparotomy, and the other died of septic shock 3 days after PMT (further intervention had been discontinued because of complications with multiple underlying diseases). No other PMT-related complications occurred. Only one patient was found to have a pseudoaneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery 1 week after PMT and underwent resection by exploratory laparotomy. The 11 surviving patients were smoothly discharged from the hospital after their symptoms were relieved. At a mean follow-up of 13.2 months, computed tomography angiography showed smooth patency of the superior mesenteric artery. No patients developed serious symptoms during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

PMT by the AngioJet device is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective technique to remove ASMAE. Early application of PMT can avoid acute intestinal necrosis. Combining the AngioJet device with a 6F multipurpose drainage catheter might be more helpful to remove residual emboli.

Endovascular revascularization strategies using catheter-based thrombectomy versus conventional catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute limb ischemia

Background

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) is an important clinical event threatening both life and the affected limbs, but the optimal treatment for ALI remains undefined. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and effectiveness of thrombectomy approaches via either catheter-based thrombectomy (CBT) or catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT).

Methods

A total of 98 patients (mean age 69.7 years, 60 male) who underwent endovascular intervention for ALI from January 2015 to July 2019 were included. Of these, 57 were treated with primary CBT via a large-bore catheter, an AngioJet catheter or Rotarex catheter, and/or underwent low-dose CDT, and 41 were treated with primary CDT. The safety and effectiveness of CBT compared to conventional CDT and other various endovascular techniques were evaluated.

Results

More Rutherford IIb patients were treated with primary CBT (68.4%) than CDT (26.8%; P < .001). Patients who underwent primary CDT achieved a higher technical success rate than those who underwent primary CBT in a shorter procedure time (P < .001), whereas 42.1% of patients who underwent CBT did not need adjunctive CDT. The duration and dosage of adjunctive CDT in the CBT group were significantly decreased compared with those in the primary CDT group (both P < .001), and the CBT group achieved a shorter in-hospital length of stay (P < .001). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients treated with AngioJet and Rotarex catheters achieved slightly lower dosages, shorter CDT durations and shorter in-hospital stay lengths than those treated with large-bore catheters (P > .05). Clinical success was estimated to be achieved in 98.2% of patients who underwent CBT, which is similar to the 97.6% estimated in those who underwent primary CDT (P = 1.000), and this finding was similar among the CBT subgroups. Patients who underwent CBT had a higher procedure-related distal embolization rate and economic cost than those who underwent primary CDT (P < .05), but it had slightly fewer complications than those who underwent primary CDT (P = .059), especially minor complications (P = .036). The freedom from amputation at 6 and 12 months for CBT and CDT was assessed (93.0% vs 90.2% respectively, P = .625; 89.5% vs 82.9%, respectively, P = .34,). Comparable limb salvage was found for different techniques of large bore catheters, AngioJet catheters and Rotarex catheters. The Kaplan-Meier table analysis also showed similar limb salvage rates between groups.

Conclusions

Endovascular treatment of ALI with the use of catheter-based therapies is an effective modality that can reduce the requirement for thrombolysis, with expected reductions in hemorrhagic complications, but at the risk of remediable distal emboli and increased economic cost. It has a similar clinical outcome to conventional CDT alone. Different CBT techniques have comparable efficacy but different adverse event profiles.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12959-021-00349-9.

Pseudoaneurysm as a rare complication in the treatment of superior mesenteric artery embolism via percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy: a case report

Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy is a safe and effective treatment for addressing thrombosis in various embolic diseases. In recent years, this approach has also been actively applied in the management of acute embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. A pseudoaneurysm as a complication of this operation is remarkably rare. This is the first case report of the diagnosis and treatment of a pseudoaneurysm that developed as a complication after the application of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy via an AngioJet device for thrombolysis in the superior mesenteric artery.

Navigating between the science and art of acute limb ischemia treatment

The diagnosis and treatment of acute limb ischemia (ALI) has long been a fierce adversary that has evolved over the last several decades with scientific advancements in endovascular therapy. History and physical examination remain the mainstay of diagnosis enhanced by detailed imaging to guide therapy. Many endovascular tools are available for prompt restoration of flow that compliment traditional surgical options. These devices incorporate the mechanical removal of thrombus and the chemical dissolution of thrombus . Medical decision-making for ALI patients must take into account the patient characteristics, anatomic variables, mechanism of ischemia, degree of ischemia, and operator skill to employ the right strategy for the right patient. This moving target challenges scientific study, making the therapeutic bedside decision making an artform. We present an overview of the field, supportive data, and a treatment algorithm that hopefully captures this delicate balance.

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.