Acute Extremity Venous Occlusive Disease

Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a common late complication of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Catheter-directed therapy may be helpful in a select group of patients with acute iliofemoral DVT with severe symptoms unresponsive to anticoagulation. Pharmacomechanical thrombectomy may shorten the treatment time and possibly decrease the risk of complications but this remains to be proved. Upper extremity DVT (UEDVT) is frequently underdiagnosed and inadequately managed. Catheter-directed therapy is an established therapy for patients with primary UEDVT (Paget-Schroetter syndrome) and for many patients with secondary UEDVT.