Technical Results of Vacuum-Assisted Thrombectomy for Arterial Clot Removal in Patients with Acute Limb Ischemia

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of a vacuum-assisted thrombectomy (VAT) catheter system for treating patients with acute limb ischemia (ALI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study evaluated VAT systems (Penumbra, Alameda, California) in a consecutive series of 30 patients with ALI. ALI was defined as clinical symptoms within 2 weeks of presentation. The primary endpoint was improvement in blood flow across a lesion by improvement in Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score that was adapted to peripheral arteries. Concomitant balloon angioplasty or stent placement in addition to VAT was considered a complementary treatment. Additional thrombectomy treatments, such as thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, were considered technical failures. Target lesions were grouped anatomically into above-the-knee (ATK) or below-the-knee (BTK) lesions.

RESULTS: In 30 patients, 33 lesions (ATK, n = 13; BTK, n = 20) were treated. No complications were attributed to the VAT systems. The primary endpoint was obtained in 24/33 (72.7%) lesions (BTK, 17/20 [85.0%]; ATK, 7/13 [53.9%]; P = .050 by χ(2) test). TIMI scores were similar at baseline but differed after VAT between the ATK and BTK groups (P < .025 by t test). ATK lesions required more concomitant angioplasty or stent placement, or both (P < .015 by χ(2) test).

CONCLUSIONS: VAT is a safe, technically successful short-term therapeutic option for thrombus removal in patients with ALI.