Percutaneous aspiration thromboembolectomy: a preliminary experience

Percutaneous aspiration thromboembolectomy (PAT) is a radiological alternative to surgical embolectomy or thrombolysis in the treatment of acute arterial thromboembolic disease. We report our experience in eight patients aged 63-83 years (mean 71 years). Indications were graft thrombosis (1) or emboli from atrial fibrillation (3), abdominal aneurysm (2) or proximal angioplasty (2). PAT was performed at 10 arterial sites; common iliac (1), profunda femoris (1), superficial femoral (2), femoro-popliteal graft (1), popliteal (2) and arteries of the trifurcation (3). PAT was used as an adjunct to thrombolysis or angioplasty in five patients and as the sole procedure in three patients. It was successful in six patients (seven sites) with mean ABI rising from 0.4 pre- to 0.8 post-procedure. Two of the failures required amputations. One of these was a completely thrombosed dacron femoro-popliteal graft with poor run-off, and the second case had a failed surgical embolectomy prior to amputation. There were no major complications, and no mortality on follow-up at 1 month. PAT is a useful adjunct to thrombolysis and balloon angioplasty in the radiological treatment of acute thromboembolic disease. In patients in whom thrombolysis is contraindicated, it offers an alternative to surgical embolectomy.