Midterm follow-up after pharmacomechanical thrombolysis for lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE

To provide follow-up in patients treated with pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PhMT) for lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Patients underwent clinical evaluation, duplex ultrasound, venous clinical severity scoring, venous segmental disease scoring, and venous disability scoring.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients were available for evaluation. Median age was 40 years (19-58). Median follow-up was 24 months (13-69 months). Thirteen of 14 patients (93%) had a venous disability score < 1 and 13 of 14 patients (93%) had a venous clinical severity scoring < 5. In all but 1 patient the venous segmental disease scoring score was < 5. All iliac segments were patent, all but 3 patients had partial infrainguinal obstruction and 5 of 14 (36%) had reflux.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate that the good early clinical results after PhMT can be sustained on longer follow-up and may prevent the development of advanced postthrombotic syndrome.