Endovascular thrombectomy devices for acute limb ischemia management

Abstract

Acute limb ischemia still represents a challenge for the contemporary vascular surgeon, representing an immediate threat for patients' limb but potentially also for the proper patient life in some settings. Technology recently evolved and focused on the treatment of such complex situation. Several devices are available as of today allowing a complete acute limb ischemia endovascular management, aiming to remove intraluminal material while leaving the possibility for treating the underlying pathology when needed. In this review, proper specific device characteristics, indications and advantages are reported and discussed. Despite the broad spectrum of different available devices could appear as potentially confounding, each device has its own features, indications, weak and strength point. Ideally the modern endovascular surgeon should master every single tool, tailoring revascularization strategy and timing for the proper patient and arterial segment to be treated, maximizing the benefits coming from technological improvements.