IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF A RHEOLYTIC THROMBECTOMY SYSTEM FOR CLOT REMOVAL FROM 5 DIFFERENT TEMPORARY VENA-CAVA FILTERS

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of thrombus removal from temporar y vena cava filters using a rheolytic thrombectomy device and to asses s the embolization rate of this procedure. Methods: Five temporary ven a cava filters together with porcine thrombi were placed in a vena cav a flow model (semitranslucent silicone tube of 23 mm diameter, pulsati le flow at a mean flow rate of 4 L/min), A rheolytic thrombectomy syst em (Hydrolyser) was used with a 9 Fr guiding catheter to remove the cl ots. The effluent was passed through filters of different size and the amount of embolized particles as well as the remaining thrombus were measured. Results: Thrombus removal rates ranged from 85% to 100%. Emb olization rates between 47% and 60% were calculated for the different filters. Conclusion: The Hydrolyser is able to remove sufficiently hig h amounts of thrombus from temporary vena cava filters, However, the a mount of embolized particles makes it impossible to utilize this metho d without special precautions against embolization.