Pediatric venous thromboembolism (VTE) has seen a significant rise in prevalence coinciding
with the increasing availability of complex and invasive treatments in children. While
anticoagulation remains the cornerstone of VTE treatment, increasing evidence supports
interventional approaches for select cases, particularly in life- or limb-threatening
scenarios. Treatment strategies must be individualized, considering age-related differences
in hemostasis and the higher bleeding risk associated with interventions. This remains
challenging due to a dearth of pediatric-specific studies. This manuscript explores
pathophysiology, risk factors, and management strategies for pediatric VTE, emphasizing
both pharmacologic and interventional treatments and providing updated recommendations
regarding available anticoagulant agents and VTE management paradigms in children.
It highlights the potential of interventional techniques in special conditions, namely
Paget–Schroetter syndrome, superior vena cava syndrome, inferior vena cava atresia,
pulmonary emboli, and May–Thurner syndrome. In the absence of rigorous clinical trial
data, continued multidisciplinary collaboration and standardized approaches will remain
imperative for ensuring careful use of interventional procedures to achieve optimal
outcomes in these young patients.
Keywords
pediatric - venous thromboembolism - pulmonary embolism - interventional radiology
- anticoagulation - thrombolysis - thrombectomy
Bibliographical Record
William Mitchell, Michael H. White, Prashant Raghavendran, Gary Woods, Karen L. Zimowski.
Pediatric Venous Thromboembolism: Considerations for the Interventional Radiologist.
Semin intervent Radiol ; : s00451810081.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1810081
