Retrograde pedal access and percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy for salvage of an occluded vein bypass

Abstract

Managing occlusions in a lower extremity bypass is challenging, although several surgical methods and percutaneous devices are available for treatment. A 64-year-old man presented with subacute failure of his infrainguinal vein bypass. Because we were unable to access the bypass in an antegrade fashion, we accessed the bypass graft via retrograde pedal access. The occluded vein graft was salvaged with the Pounce percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy system (Surmodics) with the use of a 0.014-in. through and through buddy wire to maintain access in the bypass alongside the Pounce system to allow multiple passes of the nitinol baskets to retrieve thrombus.

Keywords: Pedal access; Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy; Retrograde access; Revascularization; Vein graft occlusion.