To compare the short-term clinical effect of using AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy combined with catheter-directed thrombolysis on different courses of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

A retrospective analysis was conducted from 46 patients with either the central-type or mixed-type of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis treated in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from March 2016 to February 2018. Patients were divided into three groups according to the courses: ≤ 3 days group (n=25), 3~14 days group (n=15), >14 days group (n=6). We compared the differences in the circumference difference between normal and affected limbs, the limb edema reduction rates, scores of venous patency, the thrombus clearance rates and the thrombolysis levels, urokinase dosages, the total time of thrombolysis, hospitalization time and the incidences of complication before and after treatment.

Patients in ≤ 3 days group were superior to 3~14 days group and >14 days group in the limb edema reduction rates, the scores of venous patency, the thrombus clearance rates, the thrombolysis level and the hospitalization time (P<0.05). Patients in 3~14 days group were superior to >14 days group in the score of venous patency, the thrombus clearance rate and the thrombolysis level (P<0.05). The urokinase dosages and total time of thrombolysis and the incidences of complications of three groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05).

AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy is effective for relief of swelling, clearance of intravenous thrombosis, restoring of venous blood flow and shorter hospital stay in patients with a disease course of less than 3 days. In addition, this method is able to obtain satisfactory results for patients with a disease course of 3 to 14 days. However, this method has poor effects on patients with a disease course of more than 14 days.

Lower extremity deep venous thrombosis; AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy; Catheter-directed thrombolysis; Treatment outcome