Endovascular Surgery for Venous Diseases

Abstract

To evaluate the usefulness of endovascular surgery (ES) for venous diseases, we examined the effects and the results of patients treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), inferior vena cava filter (IVC-F) or stents. Sixteen patients were treated by CDT; 4 subclavian veins, 10 ilio-femoral and 2 IVC thrombosis. The thrombolysis effect of CDT was higher than that of patients with general administration of urokinase. There were no cases of pulmonary embolism during CDT and no significant difference between the two groups. IVC-F was inserted into 26 patients, in which suprarenal filter placement was performed in 10. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 8 years and 1 month (average 3 years 3 months), in which 5 patients died from other disorders. There were no cases with caval occlusion or with hepatorenal dysfunction. Six patients were successfully treated by angioplasty and stent insertion. ES is useful in venous diseases and may lead to better results by combining it with other procedures. However further examination is needed to better understand indications and long-term results.