Pounce Thrombectomy System to Treat Acute and Chronic Peripheral Arterial Occlusions

Peripheral arterial occlusions are composed of variable amounts of thrombus. Endovascular techniques should initially address the variably aged thrombus prior to treating plaque (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) ± stenting). This should ideally be accomplished in a single procedural session. Forty-four consecutive patients treated with the Pounce thrombectomy system (PTS) as captured in a retrospective database, who presented with acute (n = 18), subacute (n = 7), or chronic (n = 19) lower extremity ischemia, were treated and followed for a mean of 7 months. The peripheral occlusions were considered thrombus-dominant by the feel and ease of wire traversal. They were treated with PTS along with complimentary PTA/stenting when appropriate. The mean number of passes with PTS was 4.0 ± 2.7. Sixty-five percent (29/44) were successfully revascularized in a single setting with only 2 requiring concomitant thrombolysis for incomplete thrombus removal from the PTS target artery. An additional 15 patients (34%) had thrombolysis for tibial thrombus that was not attempted with PTS. PTA ± stenting after PTS occurred in 57% of limbs. Technical success was 83% and procedural success was 95%. Reintervention rate throughout follow-up was 22.7%. Major amputation occurred in 4.5%. Complications were limited to minor groin hematomas (n = 3). Outcomes were equally effective in patients with pre-existing stents or denovo arterial occlusions as evidenced with ankle brachial index improvement from 0.48 pre-to 0.93 postintervention and 0.95 at latest follow-up (P < 0.001). PTS coupled with PTA/stenting is expeditiously safe and effective in patients with thrombus-associated lower limb occlusion.