OBJECTIVETo study the short- and long-term results for acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity treated by surgical thrombectomy and interventional thrombectomy.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six acute DVT cases treated by surgical thrombectomy or interventional thrombectomy from March 2000 to August 2008 were reviewed. There were 80 patients treated by surgical thrombectomy. Among them, 30 cases were male, 50 cases were female, aged from 26 to 81 years with a mean of (58 ± 14) years. The other 56 cases were treated by interventional thrombectomy. Among them, 25 cases were male, 31 cases were female, aged from 22 to 92 years with a mean of (57 ± 17) years. All the 136 patients received district anticoagulation with heparin and thrombolysis with urokinase after operation.

RESULTSAfter operation, the circumference difference between bilateral thigh in intervention group were less than that in surgical group [(0.8 ± 1.3) cm vs. (1.5 ± 1.7) cm, P = 0.002]. The circumference difference of bilateral calf had no significant difference [(0.7 ± 1.1) cm vs. (1.0 ± 1.1) cm, P = 0.152]. The average hospital stay in intervention group was shorter than that in surgical group [(7 ± 4) d vs. (15 ± 7) d, P = 0.000]. The morbidity of complications in intervention group was less than that in surgical group (8.9% vs. 32.5%, P = 0.000). One hundred and eight patients were followed up, who was 79.4% of the total patients, and were followed up for an average of (46 ± 29) months. The circumference difference of thigh and calf, the symptom grade, the pigmentation, varicose veins, intermittent claudication and ulceration between the two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with surgical group, intervention group has a better short-term effect, shorter hospital stays, less complications and similar long-term result.