Stents in common iliac vein obstruction with acute ipsilateral deep venous thrombosis: early and late results.

PURPOSE

To evaluate, by imaging and clinical follow-up, the effectiveness and long-term results of stent placement in cases of common iliac vein obstruction associated with ipsilateral deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 22 patients (13 women, nine men; median age, 58 years) with common iliac vein obstruction with ipsilateral DVT was performed for this study. All patients presented with leg edema or pain and were treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis (1,000-2,000 U urokinase per kg body weight per hour; n = 19), aspiration thrombectomy (n = 21), or angioplasty (n = 14) followed by stent placement (n = 22) via an ipsilateral popliteal vein approach (right, n = 2; left, n = 20) under ultrasonographic (US) guidance. Patients were then followed by duplex US, and patency rates were determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTS

The mean procedure time was 15 hours (range, 1-23 hours) and the mean urokinase dose was 1,980,000 U (range, 600,000-3,600,000 U) before the implantation of 27 stents. Three patients did not receive urokinase. The technical success rate was 96% (26 of 27 stents) and the clinical success rate was 95% (21 of 22 patients). The causes of common iliac vein obstruction were May-Thurner syndrome (n = 16), pelvic mass (n = 2), and unknown (n = 4). The early complications included upward stent migration in one patient and a spinal epidural hematoma in another. The late complication was partial stent obstruction, which was successfully treated by thrombolysis and angioplasty in one patient. Follow-up lasted 1-41 months (mean, 21.4 months). Overall, the 1-year and 2-year primary patency rates were both 95% and the 1-year and 2-year secondary patency rates were both 100%.

CONCLUSION

Directed catheter thrombolysis and aspiration of DVT are relatively safe, and the use of stents improves patency results in cases of common iliac vein obstruction.