“PTS is devastating for patients, both functionally and economically,” Dr. Soukas said. He called the morbidity of deep vein thrombosis “staggering,” with in-hospital mortality in some series exceeding 10% and a risk of late development of postthrombotic syndrome persisting for up to 5 years. For those with proximal iliofemoral DVT, the PTS rate can reach 90%, about 15% of which can develop claudication with ulcerations, according to Dr. Soukas.
A large trial that was published in a prominent journal, ATTRACT has the potential to dissuade clinicians from considering pharmacomechanical intervention in high-risk patients who could benefit, Dr. Soukas said. Others speaking during the same symposium about advances in this field, such as John Fritz Angle, MD, director of the division of vascular and interventional radiology at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, agreed with this assessment. Although other studies underway will reexamine this issue, there was consensus from several speakers at the CRT symposium that the results of ATTRACT should not preclude intervention in patients at high risk of PTS.
“I believe there is a role for DVT intervention for symptomatic patients with an extensive [proximal iliofemoral] clot provided they have a low bleeding risk,” Dr. Soukas said.
Dr. Soukas reported no potential conflicts of interest.