Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis Treated with Mechanical Thrombectomy: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Purpose The incidence of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is rising, and few studies have assessed interventional treatment strategies. Here, we aim to evaluate outcomes following standalone mechanical thrombectomy for UEDVT.

Methods Retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients who underwent standalone mechanical thrombectomy for UEDVT between October 2019 and August 2023. Outcomes assessed included technical success (≥75% thrombus removal), intraprocedural adverse events, postprocedural hospital stay, and follow-up free from death, pulmonary embolism, and rethrombosis.

Results Mechanical thrombectomy was utilized in 14 patients during the study period. The median age was 44.0 years (interquartile range: 33.5, 57.0), and seven of the patients (50.0%) were female. All procedures were technically successful and completed in a single session with no serious adverse events. The median postprocedural stay was 2 days. At a median follow-up of 88 days, there were no mortalities, and 71.4% of patients (n = 10) were free of rethrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Conclusion This analysis suggests that mechanical thrombectomy provides effective thrombus removal and can be safely completed in patients with UEDVT.

Keywords

deep vein thrombosis - mechanical thrombectomy - Paget–Schroetter's syndrome

Reporting Guidelines

This article complies with the STROBE guidelines on reporting the results of cohort studies.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was approved by the Indiana University School of Medicine Institutional Review Board under the exempt process. For this type of study, formal research ethics committee review, informed consent, or consent for publication are not required. The research was performed according to the Declaration of Helsinki principles.

Authors' Contribution

T.P. and C.M.D. contributed to the conceptualization, design, literature search, data acquisition and analysis, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation, editing, and review. . S.D.B. contributed to the conceptualization, design, literature search, data acquisition, data analysis, and manuscript editing and review. S.D.B. takes responsibility for the integrity of the work as guarantor.

Publication History

Article published online:
07 January 2025

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