Mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) has potentially debilitating long-term sequelae if left untreated. Conventional treatment (systemic anticoagulation with heparin followed by coumadin or low molecular weight heparin) often does not adequately relieves clot burden or symptoms, and patients may be left with post-thrombotic syndrome. Although the advent of catheter-directed thrombolysis has markedly improved the treatment of DVT and long-term outcomes of patients treated for DVT, it remains only partially effective on subacute or chronic clot. Mechanical thrombolysis may work synergistically with catheter-directed thrombolysis to decrease clot burden, treatment time, and complication rates, thereby improving outcomes. Copyright 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.