The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) has released a position paper stating that endovascular thrombus removal is an acceptable option for patients with acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
The statement was published November 11 in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. The SIR used data from 84 studies to develop 17 recommendations, one of which is that clinicians quickly diagnose DVT and provide patients with adequate anticoagulation, the society said. Yet it also urged physicians to consider the use of catheter-directed thrombolysis with patients with extensive, severe deep vein thrombosis but low bleeding risk.
"Most DVT patients will benefit from anticoagulation alone, and can be spared anything more invasive, but for those who are suffering from severe symptoms or are at the highest risk of developing lifestyle-limiting post-thrombotic syndrome, catheter-directed therapies are appropriate and effective in reducing symptom severity early and late," said lead author Dr. Suresh Vedantham of Washington University in St. Louis, MO, in a statement released by the SIR.
