Treatment

As opposed to patients with secondary UEDVT, in these patients there is an extrinsic venous compression responsible for the thrombosis. The goal of treatment is to restore venous patency and relieve the compression. When effort thrombosis is suspected in a patient, we usually perform catheter-directed chemical thrombolysis (if the patient is a candidate) followed by limited angioplasty if needed to restore flow. The results of the angioplasty are variable depending on the underlying injury to the vein. The thought is that if the vein can be gently dilated to attempt to maintain patency, the patient can then undergo anticoagulation until decompression surgery. It is important to diagnose the compression during the thrombolysis procedure and understand that the long-term patency of angioplasty will be limited in the setting of external compression. Stents should never be placed in this compressive environment.

There is controversy about whether to operate immediately or several weeks after thrombolysis. Some surgeons will only operate in the setting of persistent symptoms. We typically treat these patients with immediate surgery shortly after thrombolysis to relieve the compression. Several weeks after surgery, the status of the vein can be reassessed with ultrasound and angioplasty can be performed as needed to maintain or reestablish flow.

Prior to treatment, it is common for patients to have a venous duplex ultrasound demonstrating thrombosis. A computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance image highlighting the venous phase may be helpful in demonstrating the compression and excluding other sources of central occlusion (Fig. 18-3). Ultrasound-guided vascular access is achieved traditionally into the basilic or brachial vein. It is important to establish that the vein being punctured is patent. A 4-Fr or 5-Fr mini-stick microcatheter system is used to perform an initial venogram and document the extent of thrombosis (Fig. 18-4). Once the entry vein is found to be satisfactory, a 5-Fr or 6-Fr vascular sheath is placed. The axillosubclavian thrombosis is crossed with a soft tip guidewire (Bentson wire; Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN) and an angled catheter (Kumpe or multipurpose). The catheter is exchanged for a thrombolysis catheter that is placed across the area of thrombosis (Fig. 18-5). The catheter infusion length is matched to the length of thrombosis, and the patient is treated overnight with thrombolytics. The choice and dose are usually dependent on the operator’s choice, amount of thrombus, and patient risk factors. We usually coadminister peripheral low-dose heparin during the infusion, typically 300 units of heparin per hour (Fig. 18-6). In the setting of an acute decompensation requiring rapid thrombectomy or a patient who may not be a candidate for chemical thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy may be performed.

Fig 18–3 A, A coronal reformation of a computed tomography scan during the venous phase demonstrating a focal thrombosis of the left axillosubclavian vein (arrow). B, A sagittal reformation of a computed tomography scan during the venous phase demonstrating a focal thrombosis of the left axillosubclavian vein (arrow). Note location of the vein between the clavicle and the first in both reformations.

Fig 18–4 A frontal left upper extremity venogram demonstrating occlusion with thrombosis of the left axillosubclavian vein in a subtracted (A) and unsubtracted (B) image.

Fig 18–5 Frontal image demonstrating a wire across the occlusion and terminating in the inferior vena cava with a thrombolysis catheter (6-Fr EKOS ultrasound-aided infusion catheter [Bothell, WA]) positioned across the occlusion for overnight chemical thrombolysis.

Fig 18–6 Image demonstrating a 6-Fr sheath in the brachial vein with an EKOS infusion catheter through the sheath. This patient received 0.5 mg/hr of TPA (alteplase; Genentech, San Francisco, CA) infused via the EKOS catheter and 300 units/hr of heparin via the sheath.

After overnight catheter-directed thrombolysis, a venogram is performed to assess the patency of the axillosubclavian vein (Fig. 18-7). Usually, overnight thrombolysis is sufficient to clear the associated thrombus, but in certain patients a second day of thrombolysis may be necessary. As with any thrombolysis procedure, the patient is informed of the potential risk of bleeding and monitored carefully as well as with fibrinogen levels. A venogram is then performed in a provocative position to assess the amount of compression and secure the diagnosis. We usually abduct and externally rotate the arm over the patient’s head. The area of compression on the vein is usually still present after thrombolysis (Figs. 18-8 and 18-9). Angioplasty can then be performed if there is a persistent high-grade stenosis (Fig. 18-10). A low-pressure balloon is used not solely to treat the venous obstruction but also to assess the amount of fibrosis and neointimal damage because a severely damaged vein may require a venous patch at the time of surgical decompression. The surgical decompression may be performed from a transaxillary or supraclavicular approach. A portion of the first rib along with the tendinous attachment of the transected anterior scalene muscle is usually removed (Fig. 18-11).

Fig 18–7 Venogram after overnight thrombolysis demonstrating clearing of thrombus with minimal irregularity at the level of compression.