Percutaneous Vacuum-Assisted Thrombectomy Using AngioVac Aspiration System
Highlights
- • Right heart thrombi in patients with pulmonary embolism are difficult to manage.
- • Surgical embolectomy and thrombolytic therapy are two common approaches for the treatment of large intra-cardiac or intravascular thrombi.
- • One third of the patients are ineligible to receive either of these treatment options.
- • These patients can benefit from catheter-based percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy.
Abstract
Background
Surgical embolectomy and thrombolytic therapy are two common approaches for the treatment of large intra-cardiac or intravascular thrombi to prevent new or worsening pulmonary embolism (PE). Considering high operative mortality with surgical embolectomy and high bleeding risk with thrombolytic therapy, patients who are poor candidates for these treatments may benefit from percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy/Vacuum-assisted thrombectomy (VAT). AngioVac aspiration system was granted 510(k) clearance by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2009. We present a case series to describe its use and outcomes in evacuating large caval thrombi or intracardiac masses.