Results of stenting for postthrombotic venous obstructive lesions

Venous obstructive lesions represent a therapeutic challenge. Postthrombotic lesions are the most complex and very prone to rethrombosis. Technical success can be achieved in more than 85% of the cases (100% when recanalization with thrombolysis is not needed) with a low rate of periprocedural complications and no mortality. The overall rate of thrombotic events after stenting is around 5%. Patency rates depend on multiple criteria, including the need for thrombolysis and the involvement of the common femoral vein and of the inferior vena cava. Primary, assisted-primary, and secondary patency rates were 67%, 89%, and 93%, respectively, at 6 years in the study by Neglén and 66%, 70%, and 77%, respectively, in the intention-to-treat European multicentric study, at 5 and 10 years. Stenting is a minimally invasive and safe technique with good long-term clinical results and patency rates. It represents the method of choice for the treatment of postthrombotic iliofemoral venous obstructions.