New "mesh basket" for percutaneous removal of wall-adherent thrombi in dialysis shunts.

A new basket, developed for percutaneous removal of wall-adherent thrombi, was tested in model thrombosed hemodialysis shunts and clinically in two polytetrafluoroethylene grafts and one Brescia-Cimino shunt after recanalization by aspiration thrombectomy. The residual wall-adherent thrombus was removed by one or two passes with the mesh basket. The occlusion material was firmly captured within the mesh and was removed through an 8F sheath without hardly any material being sheared off from the basket. The device adapts well even to tortuous vessel segments and exerts a gentle brush effect. It may prove to be a valuable adjunct to aspiration thrombectomy or to balloon catheter embolectomy.