Transcatheter Deep Vein Arterialization
Transcatheter arterialization of the deep vein system is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLI). CLI is a condition in which the blood supply to the limbs is severely reduced, leading to pain, ulcers, gangrene, and possibly amputation.
Procedure:
In this procedure, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin and threaded up to the deep veins in the leg. A small balloon is inflated at the tip of the catheter to create a new pathway for blood flow. A stent, a mesh tube, is then placed in the new pathway to keep it open.
Deep vein arterialization (DVA) is not a novel procedure; Creating arterial-venous bypass, reverses venous flow, and limb perfusion can restore after the arterialization. It is however a new use of deep vein materialization in its treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia and its use for patients who are not eligible for other treatments such as angioplasty or surgery.
Deep vein arterialization is performed under general anesthesia. The procedure typically takes about two hours. Patients typically stay in the hospital for one to two days after the procedure.
Side Effects:
The most common side effects of Deep vein arterialization are pain, bruising, and swelling at the injection site. Other potential side effects include bleeding, infection, and blood clots.
Deep vein arterialization is a promising new treatment for CLI. It is a less invasive alternative to surgery and angioplasty, and it has been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials.