Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and outcome of thrombolysis and thrombectomy for thrombosed polytetrafluoroethylene stent-grafts inserted in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) for occlusive disease.
Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 79 consecutive patients with a thrombosed SFA endograft between November 2001 and December 2011. Of these, 46 (58%) were treated with thrombolysis (n=40, 87%) or thrombectomy (n=6, 13%) and form the study group (33 men; median age 66.8 years, range 30-80). Median time from stent-graft insertion to thrombosis was 3 months (range 0-53).
Results: Thrombolysis was successful in 38 (95%) patients over a mean 24 hours (range 3-48); one patient had failed lysis and another died during lytic treatment. Thrombectomy was successful in all 6 patients. Thrombosis without a causal lesion was significantly more common in occlusions that presented <30 days after insertion (p=0.01). Over a median follow-up of 14 months (range 1-69), reinterventions were performed for restenosis in 12 patients and reocclusion in 14 patients, all within 18 months after thrombolytic treatment. More than a third of patients (16/45) had definitive failures (2/6 from the thrombectomy group); 4 were treated conservatively (no/minor symptoms) and 12 had bypass grafts. Three (7%) patients eventually required a major amputation. The primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates of thrombolysis at 6 months were 56%, 56%, and 68%, respectively. Secondary patency for the entire cohort was 58% at 1 year.
Conclusion: Thrombolysis and thrombectomy of thrombosed endografts in the SFA is effective and safe. Patency rates after treatment are moderate, but prolonged secondary patency can be achieved.