Comparison of the AngioJet Rheolytic Catheter to Surgical Thrombectomy for the Treatment of Thrombosed Hemodialysis Grafts

Purpose To compare the clinical effectiveness of the AngioJet F105 rheolytic catheter to that of surgical thrombectomy for the treatment of thrombosed hemodialysis grafts. Materials and Methods This was a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial comparing technical success, primary patency, and complication rates. A total of 153 patients were enrolled: 82 patients in the AngioJet group and 71 patients in the surgical thrombectomy group. Patient follow-up was performed 24–48 hours, 1 month, and 6 months after the procedures. Results Technical success, as defined by the patient's ability to undergo hemodialysis treatment, was 73.2% for the AngioJet group and 78.8% for the surgical thrombectomy group (P = .41). The primary patency rates of the AngioJet group were 32%, 21%, and 15% at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively. The primary patency rates for the surgical group were 41%, 32%, and 26% at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively. This difference approached statistical significance (P = .053). The groups had similar complication rates—14.6% in the AngioJet group and 14.1% in the surgery group—although the surgery group had more major complications (11.3%). In the AngioJet group, there was a transient increase in plasma-free hemoglobin, which normalized within 24–48 hours. Conclusions The AngioJet F105 catheter provides similar clinical results when compared to surgical thrombectomy for the treatment of thrombosed hemodialysis grafts. The difference in patency rates between these two techniques approached statistical significance. In addition, results of both thrombectomy methods were inferior to those suggested by the Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines.