Endovascular Management for the Treatment of Pancreas Transplant Venous Thrombosis: A Single-Center Experience

Purpose To investigate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy used as a tool for graft rescue in patients with pancreas graft venous thrombosis (PGVT). Materials and Methods Graft venous thrombosis was discovered in 36 (33%) of 110 patients who underwent pancreas transplantation. Percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy was performed in seven patients (mean age, 31 y; range, 15-36 y) who had complete or severe thrombosis of the splenic vein or superior mesenteric vein seen on postoperative computed tomography. Results Successful evacuation of PGVT was possible in six of seven patients; the thrombus was partially evacuated in one patient. In this patient, subsequent anticoagulation salvaged the graft, rendering primary and secondary technical success rates as 86% and 100%, respectively. As pancreas grafts were successfully functioning in all seven patients within 1 month after endovascular treatment, the clinical success rate was 100%. There were no procedure-related complications. At the last follow-up evaluation, all seven patients were alive with no graft loss (mean follow-up time, 9.4 mo; range, 3.6-22.2 mo). Conclusions Endovascular treatment may be considered in patients with severe PGVT to prevent early graft loss.