Trellis thrombectomy system for the treatment of iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis.

PURPOSE

To describe the use of a new percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy device to clear thrombus from the iliofemoral vein.

CASE REPORT

A 52-year-old woman with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presented to the emergency room with a posterior tibial vein deep vein thrombosis and a greater saphenous vein thrombosis. Heparin therapy caused the clot to propagate into the iliofemoral vein. Catheter-directed thrombolysis for 36 hours with 24 units of reteplase failed to clear the clot. The Trellis Thrombectomy System, a new percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy device, was used to deliver a low dose of reteplase into the clot. Complete clot lysis was achieved in 45 minutes using only 5 units of reteplase. The patient's symptoms resolved completely, and she continues to be asymptomatic at 6 months with no evidence of residual clot on duplex scans.

CONCLUSIONS

The Trellis device may be used to rapidly clear thrombus from the iliofemoral vein with a low dose of thrombolytic agent.