Thrombectomy and thrombolysis: the interventional radiology approach

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• Thrombosis in small animals arises from hemostatic imbalances causing vessel occlusion.
• It is a frequent complication in veterinary patients with cardiac, endocrine, immunological, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline interventional therapeutic strategies for managing thrombosis in veterinary patients.
• To provide veterinarians with a range of minimally invasive options for thrombotic conditions.

Main Methods:

• Diagnosis involves identifying clinical signs and utilizing laboratory and imaging modalities for localization.
• Therapeutic decisions consider thrombus location and patient status.
• Interventional options include vessel balloon dilatation, catheter-directed thrombolysis, stenting, and percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy.
• Embolic trapping devices and anticoagulant therapy are also discussed.

Main Results:

• Clinical signs vary based on thrombus location.
• Diagnostic tools aid in identification and localization.
• Minimally invasive approaches offer diverse treatment choices.
• Combined therapies may be most effective.

Conclusions:

• Outcomes for thrombosis depend on the thrombus site.
• Arterial thrombosis presents a higher risk than venous thrombosis.
• Venous thrombosis carries a risk of pulmonary embolism.