Guidance of Venous Stent Implantation after Catheter-directed Thrombosis in Patients with Acute Left Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis based on Pressure Gradient Differences between the Iliac Vein and Inferior Vena Cava: A Single-center Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Iliac vein compression syndrome (IVCS) can lead to acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Endovascular venous stenting has become a preferred treatment for IVCS. In this article, we guide stent implantation by the pressure gradient of iliac vein and inferior vena cava. To evaluate the feasibility of guidance of venous stent implantation based on venous pressure gradient difference.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with acute left lower extremity DVT who were treated in our center from March 2012 to December 2017. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1: from January 2015 to December 2017, patients were treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and stent implantation was guided by the pressure gradient of iliac vein and inferior vena cava after thrombectomy; group 2: from May 2012 to December 2014, patients underwent CDT treatment without stent implantation. In group 1, the patients were divided into 2 groups according to the difference in pressure gradient after CDT: the stent group (>2 mm Hg) and the control group (≤2 mm Hg). All patients were evaluated by color Doppler ultrasound at 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation to evaluate the patency of the iliofemoral vein. The Villalta score was used to evaluate the incidence of PTS.

Results: The primary and secondary patency rate of group 1 at 1, 3, and 6 months after operation were higher than that in group 2 (P < 0.05). In group 1, there was no significant difference in the primary and secondary patency rate between the stent group and the control group at 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation. The incidence of PTS in group 1 at 6 months after the operation was lower than that in group 2 (P < 0.05). In group 1, there was no significant difference in the incidence of PTS between the stent group and the control group at 6 months after the operation.

Conclusions: Practice proves that it is simple and effective to guide stent implantation according to differences in pressure gradients. Two millimeter of mercury is the traditional standard for venous pressure interference in the pelvic area, and the effectiveness of this method was proved.