Aims: To determine the safety and feasibility of continuous aspiration mechanical
thrombectomy (CAT) for restoring patency to thrombosed hemodialysis reliable outflow
(HeRO) arteriovenous grafts. Subjects and Methods: Between December 2016 and August
2017, eleven consecutive patients (average age 63, range 39–80 years) with thrombosed
HeRO grafts underwent percutaneous thrombectomy procedures (n = 21) using the Penumbra
Indigo® CAT 8 or CAT D (Alameda, CA, USA) thrombectomy catheter as the primary device to
clear the venous outflow tract before removing the arterial plug with a compliant
balloon. A total of 21 hemodialysis declot procedures using CAT were documented and
analyzed. Average procedure length and fluoroscopy time, length of thrombus cleared,
blood loss, complications, and time between thrombectomy procedures were recorded
and compared to the same patient's previous three thrombectomy procedures. Results:
All procedures were technically successful (100%) at restoring graft patency; however,
reocclusion within 5 days occurred in four (19.0%) cases. Three (14.3%) interventions
required additional balloon maceration or sweep to clear the venous outflow following
thrombectomy. Average thrombus length treated by suction thrombectomy measured 23.15
cm (range 2.2–65 cm). Average blood loss was 162.6 mL (range 50–250 mL). No procedure-related
complications were recorded. The average procedure length and fluoroscopy time using
suction thrombectomy was 74.7 and 14.2 min, respectively, compared with 82.0 and 14.0
min, respectively, in the previous thrombectomy procedures using standard methods
(P > 0.05). Seventeen (81%) HeRO grafts treated by CAT presented with rethrombosis
at a mean of 42.47 days (range 1–208 days, median 22 days, standard deviation [SD]
28.2 days) since CAT procedure compared to patients treated by conventional methods
who presented for rethrombosis at a mean of 55.33 days (range 1–321 days, median 34
days, SD 43.1 days) since standard thrombectomy – no statically significant difference
(P > 0.05). Conclusion: CAT is a safe and feasible method for removing thrombus and
restoring patency to thrombosed HeRO grafts. Further studies are required to elucidate
the advantages of CAT over standard thrombectomy techniques.
Endovascular - hemodialysis - suction - thrombectomy