Thrombectomy and thrombolysis for the prevention and treatment of postthrombotic syndrome

Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a frequent complication of lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), occurring in approximately 40% of patients despite the use of anticoagulant therapy. PTS causes significant impairment of patients' health-related quality of life, and no evidence-based therapies have been consistently effective. Catheter-directed thrombolysis and thrombectomy have been shown to remove acute thrombus, and it has been hypothesized they could prevent or reduce PTS. However, because these procedures can be associated with complications, mainly bleeding, randomized trial data are needed to determine when they should be used. In this article, I summarize the current status of thrombus removal procedures for DVT to provide contemporary guidance to clinicians seeking to individualize treatment decisions for their patients.