Endovascular management of acute deep vein thrombosis

Anticoagulation with unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin followed by warfarin is recognized as the standard therapy for acute DVT. Although this approach may effectively prevent recurrent thrombosis, it often fails to meet the other treatment goals. Recent studies have demonstrated that early clot lysis through the use of catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy and other adjunctive endovascular techniques rapidly restores venous patency, more effectively preserves valvular function, and improves quality of life. When used in conjunction with anticoagulation, these minimally invasive endovascular techniques have the potential to lead to improved long-term outcomes in patients with DVT.