Successful treatment of aortic endograft thrombosis with rheolytic thrombectomy.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE: To report the benefits of rheolytic thrombectomy for treating aortic endograft thrombosis. METHODS: Of 40 patients who received the Ancure bifurcated endograft to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) during a 9-month period, 6 (15%) patients (6 men; mean age 62.6 years, range 53-77) developed thrombosis of the endograft at an average of 9 weeks (range 1-20 months). Five patients were taking aspirin, and 3 were on warfarin therapy for atrial fibrillation. Immediately after angiography, rheolytic thrombectomy was used to remove the thrombus, followed by adjunctive procedures to treat the underlying pathology. RESULTS: Causes were kinking or extrinsic compression of the graft limb in 5 cases and thrombosis of the surgical closure site in a common femoral artery. Mechanical thrombectomy was successful in restoring circulation in all cases; thrombolysis was used in 1. All 6 patients had additional stents placed in the graft limbs, re-establishing patency. There was no mortality or recurrent thrombosis in a follow-up that has extended to 26 months, but 1 patient required additional stenting for subsequent focal kinking of a graft limb above the previously implanted stent. CONCLUSIONS: Rheolytic thrombectomy can safely and effectively treat endograft thrombosis after endovascular AAA repair. Additional thrombolytic agents, angioplasty, and stenting may be needed to correct the underlying causes of the thrombosis. Prophylactic stenting of iliac limbs at the time of implantation in patients with complex anatomy may prevent thrombosis of unsupported bifurcated endografts.

Author information

Author/s: Krajcer, Zvonimir (Z); Gilbert, Jerry H (JH); Dougherty, Kathy (K); Mortazavi, Ali (A); Strickman, Neil (N);

Affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Texas Heart Institute, St Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. ZvonkoMD(-atsign-)aol.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of endovascular therapy : an official journal of the International Society of Endovascular Specialists (J Endovasc Ther), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Dec; vol 9 (issue 6) : pp 756-64

Dates: Created 2003/01/27; Completed 2003/05/30; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12546575, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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