Recanalization of aortic and iliocaval occlusions by a new catheter-directed thrombolytic system - Report of two cases

Catheter-directed mechanical thrombectomy, suction thrombectomy, and fibrinolytic therapy techniques have progressed in recent years due to technological advancement. Unfortunately, the rapid influx of new technology and the challenging design of randomized studies results in no established clinical superiority of new techniques over conservative management or open surgical procedures. Therefore, the incremental performance of new systems and instrumentation is mostly presented in case reports and observational series. Here, we report the short- and long-term procedural and clinical outcomes for 2 patients, who underwent treatments of 1) an acute, life-threatening occlusion of the infrarenal aorta, and 2) a thrombotic occlusion of the inferior vena cava and of the bilateral common and external iliac veins. The patients were treated using a new percutaneous, endovascular catheter capable of expeditiously restoring blood flow through a fresh thrombus, as well as dissolving the clot through the administration of thrombolytic.