Interventional Treatment of Venous Thrombosis

Thrombosis can develop in any veins from vena cavae to peripheral extremity veins. It can develop from underlying steno occlusive diseases of the vein such as May Thurner syndrome, Budd Chiari syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, etc. or with hypercoagulable diathesis due to various causes. When venous thrombosis develops, it can be managed medically or surgically. However, recent advances of endovascular interventional radiological procedures, more cases of venous thrombosis can be dealt with radiological interventions. Catheter- directed thrombolysis is the most commonly used radiologic intervention for venous thrombosis, which has been proven safe and effective during the past years. Other radiological interventions encompass mechanical thrombectomy, balloon angioplasty and/ or stenting, or combinations of each method. Owing to these radiological interventions, more patients can be treated in minimally invasive manners with less procedure related discomfort, while with higher therapeutic efficacies and more improved safety. Still the standard treatment algorithm has not been accomplished for venous thrombotic diseases, and the best treatment protocol is warranted by cooperation of each expertise in internal medicine, surgery, and interventional radiology.