Abstract:

Acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has a high mortality and a significant morbidity risk. The most dreadful early complications of DVT are pulmonary embolism (PE) and phlegmasia cerulea dolens, which is a consequence of circulatory impairment due to venous obstruction. Another important complication is Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), which may significantly reduce the quality of life in the long term. Anticoagulation is the cornerstone of treatment in DVT and has been proven to reduce the risk of fatal PE by avoiding thrombus propagation. However, anticoagulant therapy may be ineffective in preventing venous gangrene and PTS caused by chronic venous obstruction and venous valvular incompetence. Endovascular treatment options, such as catheter-directed thrombolysis, percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy, venous angioplasty/stenting and surgical venous thrombectomy, can help remove acute thrombus and restore venous patency. These methods can be performed as an adjunct to anticoagulant therapy and are becoming the treatment of choice in extremity-threatening venous ischaemia, as well as in iliofemoral venous thrombosis, and in vena cava thrombosis where the risk of PE is high. In this study, we aim to review the thrombus removal methods used in the treatment of acute DVT.

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