Thrombectomy Devices in the Treatment of Acute Mesenteric Ischemia: Initial Single Center Experience

Background To report our preliminary experience with endovascular revascularization of patients with acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI), using thrombectomy devices. Methods It is a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to our hospital due to AMI and who were subjected to concomitant or exclusive endovascular treatment, from January 2011 to January 2016. Patients were admitted at the emergency department, underwent imaging investigation, and were referred to the endovascular specialist. Endovascular treatment was performed through left brachial artery access and selective catheterization and thrombectomy with a 6F Rotarex Debulking Device (Straub Medical, Wangs, Switzerland). Laparotomy was performed based on clinical and radiologic sings and at the discretion of the surgeon. Demographic, clinical/periprocedural, postoperative, complication, and adjunct intervention data were reviewed. Technical success was defined as recanalization of the Riolan's arcade on angiographic control. Results Twenty patients (mean age: 69.8 ± 11.3 years) underwent endovascular revascularization for AMI using thrombectomy devices, during the period of the study. Abdominal pain was the most common complain on admission (65%), with ileus (35%), sepsis (25%), and myocardial infarction as the main clinical referral presentation at admission. Fifteen patients (75%) had suggestive computer tomography (CT) signs of AMI on admission. Endovascular revascularization was successfully performed in all patients through the left brachial artery with a mean procedural time of 28 ± 17 min. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was the main vessel involved in 75% on a solely basis. The majority of the SMA occlusions were in the periosteal (30%) and proximal to middle colic artery offspring (35%). Primary use of thrombectomy devices was performed in all patients, associated with balloon angioplasty (7/20; 50%), stent deployment (5/20; 25%), intraoperative selective thrombolysis (4/20; 20%) and catheter-assisted aspiration in 10% (2/20) of patients. Average time between admission and computed tomography angiography was 1.5 ± 0.5 hr, between admission and angiographic procedure was 2.5 ± 1 hr, and between admission and surgery was 9 ± 5 hr. Following recanalization, 14 patients (70%) underwent open surgery. Laparotomy with intestinal resection (enterectomy, colectomy) and transit deviation was the most common procedure. Complications directly related to the endovascular procedure occurred in 2 patients, represented by self-limited small perforations. Overall 30-day mortality was 40% ( n  = 8). During the period of this study, no patient died as a result of complications related to the use of rotational thrombectomy. Conclusions Endovascular treatment of the AMI with the use of thrombectomy devices proved to be technically feasible and reasonably fast procedure. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment remains the cornerstone of the treatment. Early surgical evaluation and close integration between surgical and endovascular specialists are crucial to faster treatment and consequently lower extensive surgical resections and mortality. Further studies are necessary on this field to confirm these findings.