A Retrospective Comparison of Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis versus Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis for Treatment of Acute Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis

Background: Pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) and catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) are frequently employed for treating deep venous thrombosis (DVT). However, there have been relatively few studies comparing PMT outcomes to those associated with CDT. The present study was thus designed to compare short-and mid-term PMT and CDT patient outcomes following the treatment of DVT of the lower extremities. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of 98 patients treated at the 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University (Shenzhen, China) and Beijing Chao Yang Hospital (Beijing, China). All patients had undergone treatment for symptomatic DVT of the lower legs via either CDT or PMT. Clinical records and outcome data between the patients in these 2 treatment groups were compared. Results: Of the 98 patients analyzed in this retrospective study, 50 had been treated via CDT while 48 had undergone PMT. These PMT and CDT operations were associated with mean treatment durations of 0.97 +/- 0.20 hr and 32.48 +/- 7.46 hr, respectively ( P < 0.0001). Complete lysis was achieved in 78 patients (42 and 36 in the PMT and CDT groups, respectively P = 0.057), while effective lysis was achieved in 96 patients (48 and 48 in the PMT and CDT groups, respectively P = 0.162), with lysis being ineffective in the 2 remaining patients. PMT was associated with a significantly decreased length of hospital stay, usage of UK dose, and treatment duration relative to CDT(P < 0.0001). No major complications or MACE incidence were noted in either group, although 18 patients in the PMT group suffered from bradyarrhythmia ( P = 0.007). Clinical efficacy was achieved in 96 patients (48 in each treatment group) at time of discharge ( P = 0.162). A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that 2-year primary patency rates did not differ significantly between these 2 groups ( P = 0.442). Conclusion: PMT is an effective treatment modality in patients with symptomatic DVT. Relative to CDT it is associated with high treatment success rates, reduced treatment duration, and reduced hospitalization duration, although it is also associated with higher rates of systemic complications.