Treatment of infrainguinal arterial thromboembolic acute occlusions with the Aspirex® mechanical thrombectomy device.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the safety and effectiveness of the Aspirex® mechanical thrombectomy system for the treatment of acute infrainguinal arterial thromboembolic occlusions.

Methods: We retrospectively identified consecutive patients at our clinic with infrainguinal thromboembolic acute occlusions treated with the Aspirex® mechanical thrombectomy device. Primary end points included technical success, defined as the complete revascularization of the acutely occluded vessel, and clinical success, defined as the absence of amputation within 60 d. Secondary end points included 1-year embolized vessel primary patency.

Results: Twenty-four patients with infrainguinal arterial acute thromboembolic occlusions were treated with the mechanical thrombectomy system (five infrapopliteal, 12 femoropopliteal and seven popliteal). Technical success occurred in 18 patients (75%), and clinical success occurred in 24 (100%). The 1-year embolized vessel primary patency rate was 75% (n = 18). The 1-year limb salvage rate was 95.8% (n = 23).

Conclusions: The use of the Aspirex® mechanical thrombectomy is effective for the management of acute thromboembolic occlusions of infrainguinal arteries. Caution is needed when using it in smaller vessels, particularly distally below the knee.