Successful treatment of phlegmasia cerulea dolens in a nonagenarian patient with chronic iliac vein occlusion using a Cleaner thrombectomy device

Abstract

A 91-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room with a 3-day history of severe pain, swelling and cyanosis in his left leg. Duplex ultrasound findings were suggestive of acute left popliteal and iliofemoral venous thrombosis. Heparin was initiated and pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) was performed with the use of a Cleaner thrombectomy device. At the completion of PMT, repeat venography revealed chronic proximal iliac vein occlusion. After the procedure, alteplase was infused via the intra-arterial catheter at a rate of 0.5 mg/h over 24 h to clear the thrombus distal to the popliteal vein and residual thrombus. The patient’s signs and symptoms improved markedly after the intervention. There were no minor or systemic bleeding problems. He was discharged home 10 days after the procedure without any complications.