Shredding embolectomy thrombectomy catheter for treatment of acute lower-limb ischemia

We undertook a prospective evaluation to prove a new mechanical thrombectom y device, the shredding embolectomy thrombectomy catheter (S.E.T, catheter) , for the treatment of patients with acute lower-limb ischemia. The study e valuated the success, patency, mortality, limb salvage, and complication ra tes for 51 patients treated from January 1994 through June 1996, with this device, which was an 8-F three-lumen catheter. The onset of symptoms was 8. 6 +/- 9 days. Thrombus length was 18 +/- 9 cm situated in 44 native vessels and in 7 bypasses, 42 limbs were graded as threatened. Hydromechanical thr ombectomy with the S.E.T. catheter proved to be a quick and safe adjunct fo r therapy of acute femoropopliteal thromboembolic occlusions with a high in itial success rate and an acceptable mid-term patency rate.