PERCUTANEOUS MECHANICAL THROMBOLYSIS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF VARIOUS ROTATIONAL CATHETER SYSTEMS

In vitro fragmentation of thrombi was performed with the Kensey catheter, the Bildsoe catheter, the Gunther aspiration catheter, and two modified aspiration catheters in a model circuit under femoral and pulmonary artery flow conditions. In the femoral artery model all tested catheters worked sufficiently: particles larger than 1000-mu-m in the effluent comprised only 1.27% +/- 0.46% of the initial thrombus weight. In the treatment of larger thrombi (pulmonary artery model), the action of rotational aspiration devices, and in particular of the Bildsoe catheter, was limited: fibrin filaments winding around the rotating tip led to catheter obstruction. The Kensey catheter yielded best results in the fragmentation of large thrombi.