IN-VIVO EVALUATION OF THE HYDROLYSER HYDRODYNAMIC THROMBECTOMY CATHETER

PURPOSE: The authors evaluated a 7-F double-lumen thrombectomy catheter (Hydrolyser) in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate efficacy, thrombectomy was performed 1, 4, or 8 days after local denudation in peripheral arteries (n = 18) and veins (n = 29) of nine goats. To evaluate safety, the reaction of the vessel wall to a functioning and nonfunctioning Hydrolyser catheter was evaluated in the peripheral arteries and veins of three goats 10 days after the procedure. RESULTS: Reopening was achieved in all vessels with residual thrombus in 11% of arteries (two of 18) and 55% of veins (16 of 29), Slight intimal thickening was observed, but no difference was seen between the passage of a functioning versus nonfunctioning catheter. CONCLUSIONS: The Hydrolyser device can remove intravascular thrombus up to 8 days after induction. There was no difference in vessel wall reaction after the passage of a functioning and nonfunctioning catheter.