Clinical efficacy of AngioJet™ mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of acute lower extremity arterial embolism and thrombosis

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy using the AngioJet™ System for the treatment of lower extremity acute arterial embolism and thrombosis. METHODS: A total of twenty patients who had acute arterial embolism and thrombosis of the lower extremity were recruited. All patients were treated using the AngioJet mechanical thrombectomy system. Clinical data of the patients were retrospectively collected. The clinical efficacy of thrombectomy was analyzed. RESULTS: Eighteen (90%) of the twenty patients successfully completed the mechanical thrombectomy using the AngioJet system. The mean time for hospital stay and operation was 4.2 ± 1.4 days and 1.31 ± 0.41 h, respectively. The average doses of urokinase and heparin during operation were 358,000 ± 123,000 U and 45.10 ± 8.30 mg, respectively. Two patients received a complementary treatment of incision for removing the thrombus. Two patients received catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) after the mechanical thrombectomy. Five patients received bare-metal stent implantation after balloon expansion. According to the Cooley standard, ten patients were in excellent conditions, six in good conditions, two in fair conditions, and two in poor conditions. No severe bleeding or renal function impairment was observed. CONCLUSION: The AngioJet mechanical thrombectomy system is safe and effective. Combined with the use of CDT and stent implantation, the AngioJet system could lead to quick recoveries of the perfusion of the lower extremity and improve the limb salvage rates, exhibiting excellent clinical values.