Suction thrombectomy after balloon maceration for dural venous sinus thrombosis

To introduce the combination of suction thrombectomy (ST) and balloon maceration (BM) for the management of dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST).

Ten consecutive patients (average age, 53±15years; range, 30 to 73years) with DVST treated by ST after BM were evaluated including location of DVST, imaging presentation, procedural findings, and 3-month modified Rankin scale (mRS).

All 10 patients had evidence of venous infarct on MR or CT. In addition, seven patients had intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), one had subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and one had both ICH and SAH. More than one sinus was involved in nine patients. ST after BM was technically successful in all patients, and angiographic relief of venous congestion and good outcome (3-month mRS 0 or 1) was achieved in eight patients (80%). The average procedural time was 73.5±24.7min. Two patients who were in coma status had negative outcomes, and one had a known chronic thrombotic segment refractory to treatment. No recurrent thrombosis of recanalized sinus was found on follow-up MR venography in six patients and CT venography in two patients.

BM followed by ST is a promising technique for the treatment of acute DVST.