Treatment of axillosubclavian vein thrombosis: a novel technique for rapid removal of clot using low-dose thrombolysis.

Purpose: To report successful combined percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy and pharmacological lysis for axillosubclavian vein thrombosis, with rapid clot removal at a single setting using low-dose thrombolysis.

Case Reports: Two consecutive patients presented with arm swelling; the diagnosis of axillosubclavian vein thrombosis was confirmed with duplex ultrasound. Both patients were treated percutaneously with the Solera mechanical thrombectomy device, after which 5 mg of tissue plasminogen activator were delivered within approximately 10 minutes via the Trellis infusion catheter to remove any residual thrombus.

Aneurysm-related death: primary endpoint analysis for comparison of open and endovascular repair.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to utilize an objective endpoint analysis of aneurysm treatment, which is based on the primary objective of aneurysm repair, and to apply it to a consecutive series of patients undergoing open and endovascular repair.

Method: Aneurysm-related death was defined as any death that occurred within 30 days of primary aneurysm treatment (open or endovascular), within 30 days of a secondary aneurysm or graft-related treatment, or any death related to the aneurysm or graft at any time following treatment. We reviewed 417 consecutive patients undergoing elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair: 243 patients with open repair and 174 patients with endovascular repair.

The first 150 endovascular AAA repairs at a single institution: how steep is the learning curve?

Purpose: To determine whether increasing experience with endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in a single institution will result in improved outcome.

Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of 150 consecutive cases of endovascular AAA repairs performed using the AneuRx device between October 1996 and April 2000 in a university-based medical center. The population was divided into early and late groups of 75 patients each.

Late endoleak after endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with multiple proximal extender cuffs.

Late onset graft or attachment site-related endoleaks may be hazardous, and early identification of patients at risk is important. We describe a patient who underwent implantation of a bifurcated stent graft 5.5 cm below the renal arteries because of a technical error with three extender cuffs implanted proximally to bridge the gap.