Endovascular management of acute extensive iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis caused by May-Thurner syndrome.

PURPOSE: The authors report their experience on the treatment of acute extensive iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT) due to May-Thurner syndrome using endovascular techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 1-year period, 10 symptomatic women (age range, 22-52 years; mean, 35.5 years) were referred for treatment. After ascending venography, an infusion catheter system was placed and urokinase was infused locally into the thrombus burden. After near complete clot dissolution (> or = 95%) or lytic stagnation, the residual left common iliac vein narrowing was treated by means of angioplasty and/or placement of Wallstent endoprosthesis. All patients continued to receive oral warfarin. Patients were followed-up by means of clinic visits, and stent patency was assessed by means of duplex Doppler sonography performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and then yearly thereafter.

RESULTS: The total dose of urokinase used and the duration of infusion were 5.87 +/- 2.57 million units (range, 3.18-10.7) and 51.95 +/- 21.57 hours (range, 26.5-89), respectively. After completion of thrombolytic therapy, the iliac vein narrowing was successfully treated by deployment of a Wallstent endoprosthesis in all 10 patients because of failure of angioplasty. No major bleeding complications occurred. Initial clinical success was 100%, with complete resolution of symptoms in all patients. One patient, who was hypercoagulable and was receiving chemotherapy for metastatic adenocarcinoma, had recurrent symptomatic acute DVT 1 month after therapy. She underwent successful repeated lysis. The remaining nine patients were asymptomatic, with a mean follow-up of 15.2 months (range, 6-36 months). One asymptomatic patient, at 36-month follow-up ultrasound, had iliac vein occlusion and well-developed venous collaterals. Serial ultrasonography in all 10 patients showed no evidence of valvular insufficiency in the femoral and popliteal veins.

CONCLUSION: Catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of acute extensive iliofemoral DVT due to May-Thurner syndrome is an effective method for restoring venous patency and provides relief of the acute symptoms. The underlying left common iliac vein lesion invariably needs to undergo stent placement.