The role of interventional radiology in the management of deep vein thrombosis

Abstract

Deep venous thrombosis is a common life-threatening disorder with a significant mortality rate. The current standard anticoagulation therapy has proven inadequate in prevention of long-term post-thrombotic symptoms in patients with large clot burdens. Over the last two decades, advances in endovascular therapies have delivered a range of new treatment options including catheter-directed thrombolysis, percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy, venoplasty and stenting and inferior vena caval filter devices. Although there has been growing experience and guidelines in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis, there remains a wide variation in clinical practice nationally. This paper aims to raise the awareness of these emerging therapies and reviews the available evidence for their use.