Large Bore Portal Vein Thrombectomy: An Inari FlowTriever Case Series

Portal vein thrombus (PVT) can worsen portal hypertension and hepatic decompensation in patients with cirrhosis and impact liver transplant outcomes. This retrospective case series describes large bore mechanical thrombectomy of PVT with the Inari FlowTriever device during, or remotely after, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement.

Ten patients with PVT were treated with large bore thrombectomy. All patients had underlying cirrhosis, complicated by portal hypertension with acute/subacute PVT. Thrombectomy was performed either with TIPS placement, or via a previously placed thrombosed shunt. Median time from TIPS placement to thrombectomy was 3 years.

Thrombectomy was technically successful in all patients with a majority achieving complete resolution of PVT in a single session. During mean follow-up of 13.3 months, all patients achieved complete resolution of PVT without recurrence.

Large bore mechanical thrombectomy together with TIPS is a feasible and effective treatment of acute/subacute PVT in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension, often with complete resolution in a single session.