RSS-Feed abonnieren
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811718
Endovascular Management of Pediatric Deep Venous Thrombosis
Autor*innen
Abstract
This study aims to review current practices in thrombolysis and thrombectomy for managing deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and associated complications in the pediatric population. Pediatric thrombosis care has a rich history of evolution, from the early days of anticoagulation to the current era of endovascular therapies. This evolution has been driven by the need for a nuanced, multidisciplinary approach that includes interventional radiology (IR) and hematology. While anticoagulation remains the standard of care, endovascular therapies are increasingly utilized in cases of extensive, occlusive, or limb-threatening DVT, particularly to prevent pulmonary embolism and postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) and to preserve venous patency. This review outlines the indications, contraindications, and procedural techniques for catheter-directed thrombolysis, pharmaco-mechanical thrombectomy (PMT), mechanical thrombectomy, and venous stenting in children. It emphasizes the crucial role of a multidisciplinary team, including pediatric hematologists, interventional radiologists, and other medical professionals, in managing pediatric DVT. This collaboration is essential for considering pediatric-specific factors such as patient size, sedation requirements, radiation, contrast dosing, and anticoagulation. Also highlighted are postprocedural care, anticoagulation strategies, and imaging follow-up. Multidisciplinary collaboration is critical to improving outcomes for children with thrombotic disease.
Publikationsverlauf
Artikel online veröffentlicht:
25. September 2025
© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.
Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA
-
References
- 1 Monagle P, Cuello CA, Augustine C. et al. American Society of Hematology 2018 Guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism: treatment of pediatric venous thromboembolism. Blood Adv 2018; 2 (22) 3292-3316
- 2 Goldenberg NA, Schulman S, Kittelson JM. et al; Multicenter Evaluation of the Duration of Therapy for Thrombosis in Children (Kids-DOTT) Trial Investigators and the Antithrombotic Trials Leadership and Steering (ATLAS) Group. Duration of anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism in pediatric patients: evaluation of the duration of therapy for thrombosis in children (Kids-DOTT) trial outcomes at 2 years. J Thromb Haemost 2025; 23 (02) 651-656
- 3 Shoag J, Davis JA, Corrales-Medina FF. Venous thromboembolism in pediatrics. Pediatr Rev 2021; 42 (02) 78-89
- 4 Raffini L, Huang Y-S, Witmer C, Feudtner C. Dramatic increase in venous thromboembolism in children's hospitals in the United States from 2001 to 2007. Pediatrics 2009; 124 (04) 1001-1008
- 5 Jaffray J, Young G. Deep vein thrombosis in pediatric patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2018; 65 (03)
- 6 Jaffray J, Bauman M, Massicotte P. The impact of central venous catheters on pediatric venous thromboembolism. Front Pediatr 2017; 5: 5
- 7 Gill AE, Patel KN. The role of interventional radiology in the treatment of acute thrombosis and chronic veno-occlusive disease in children and adolescents. Semin Roentgenol 2019; 54 (04) 324-336
- 8 Tarango C, Manco-Johnson MJ. Pediatric thrombolysis: a practical approach. Front Pediatr 2017; 5: 260
- 9 Bertino FJ, Hawkins CM, Woods GM. et al. Technical feasibility and clinical efficacy of iliac vein stent placement in adolescents and young adults with May-Thurner syndrome. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2024; 47 (01) 45-59
- 10 Dandoy CE, Kukreja KU, Gruppo RA, Patel MN, Tarango C. Outcomes in children with deep vein thrombosis managed with percutaneous endovascular thrombolysis. Pediatr Radiol 2015; 45 (05) 719-726
- 11 Goldman RE, Arendt VA, Kothary N. et al. Endovascular management of May-Thurner syndrome in adolescents: a single-center experience. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2017; 28 (01) 71-77
- 12 Gaballah M, Shi J, Kukreja K. et al. Endovascular thrombolysis in the management of iliofemoral thrombosis in children: a multi-institutional experience. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2016; 27 (04) 524-530
- 13 Annam A, Rochon P, Thornhill D. et al. 03:18 PM Abstract No. 45 Prospective comparison of pharmacomechanical thrombolysis versus anticoagulation for treatment of pediatric iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis: 2-year follow up. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2019; 30: S23
- 14 Kukreja KU, Lungren MP, Patel MN. et al. Endovascular venous thrombolysis in children younger than 24 months. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2014; 25 (08) 1158-1164
- 15 Karim S, Gayou E, Gross J. et al. Selective iliofemoral stent placement for complex pediatric cases: a decade of institutional experience. Pediatr Radiol 2024; 54 (09) 1540-1548
- 16 Warad DM, Rao AN, Bjarnason H, Rodriguez V. Clinical outcomes of May-Thurner syndrome in pediatric patients: a single institutional experience. TH Open 2020; 4 (03) e189-e196
- 17 Monagle P, Chan AKC, Goldenberg NA. et al. (2012) Antithrombotic Therapy in Neonates and Children: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. CHEST 141:e737S-e801S. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.11-2308
- 18 Goldenberg NA, Kittelson JM, Abshire TC. et al; Kids-DOTT Trial Investigators and the ATLAS Group. Effect of anticoagulant therapy for 6 weeks vs 3 months on recurrence and bleeding events in patients younger than 21 years of age with provoked venous thromboembolism: the kids-DOTT randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2022; 327 (02) 129-137
- 19 Goldfisher R. Lower-extremity venous ultrasound - past, present and future. Pediatr Radiol 2017; 47 (09) 1209-1213
- 20 Pulmonary Embolism or Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis and Treatment/Management | Children's Hospital Colorado. Accessed April 20, 2025 at: https://www.childrenscolorado.org/healthprofessionals/clinical-resources/clinical-pathways/vte-clinical-pathway/
- 21 Krishnaswamy A, Lincoff AM, Cannon CP. The use and limitations of unfractionated heparin. Crit Pathw Cardiol 2010; 9 (01) 35-40
- 22 Buck ML. Bivalirudin as an alternative to heparin for anticoagulation in infants and children. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2015; 20 (06) 408-417
- 23 Young VA, Thakor AS, Josephs SC. Update on pediatric interventional radiology. Radiographics 2022; 42 (06) 1580-1597
- 24 Shammas NW. Bivalirudin: pharmacology and clinical applications. Cardiovasc Drug Rev 2005; 23 (04) 345-360
- 25 Zuily S, Cohen H, Isenberg D. et al. Use of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome: guidance from the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. J Thromb Haemost 2020; 18 (09) 2126-2137
- 26 Herzog E, Zavaletta V, Katz D. et al. Interventional treatment of pediatric venous thromboembolic disease. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 2024; 27 (02) 100957
- 27 Manco-Johnson MJ. How I treat venous thrombosis in children. Blood 2006; 107 (01) 21-29
- 28 Marlar RA, Gausman JN. Laboratory testing issues for protein C, protein S, and antithrombin. Int J Lab Hematol 2014; 36 (03) 289-295
- 29 Hansrani V, Moughal S, Elmetwally A, Al-Khaffaf H. A review into the management of May-Thurner syndrome in adolescents. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2020; 8 (06) 1104-1110
- 30 Goldenberg NA, Brandão L, Journeycake J. et al; Perinatal And Paediatric Haemostasis Subcommittee Of The Scientific And Standardization Committee Of The International Society On Thrombosis And Haemostasis. Definition of post-thrombotic syndrome following lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and standardization of outcome measurement in pediatric clinical investigations. J Thromb Haemost 2012; 10 (03) 477-480
- 31 Goldenberg NA, Donadini MP, Kahn SR. et al. Post-thrombotic syndrome in children: a systematic review of frequency of occurrence, validity of outcome measures, and prognostic factors. Haematologica 2010; 95 (11) 1952-1959
- 32 Avila L, Amiri N, De R. et al. Characteristics of upper- and lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis and predictors of postthrombotic syndrome in children. Blood Adv 2021; 5 (19) 3737-3747
- 33 Betensky M, Goldenberg NA. Post-thrombotic syndrome in children. Thromb Res 2018; 164: 129-135
- 34 Dukkipati R, Yang EH, Adler S, Vintch J. Acute kidney injury caused by intravascular hemolysis after mechanical thrombectomy. Nat Clin Pract Nephrol 2009; 5 (02) 112-116
- 35 Harvey JJ, Hopkins J, McCafferty IJ, Jones RG. Inferior vena cava filters: what radiologists need to know. Clin Radiol 2013; 68 (07) 721-732
- 36 Plotnik AN, Haber Z, Kee S. Early thrombus removal for acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis: update on inclusion, technical aspects, and postprocedural management. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2024; 47 (12) 1595-1604
- 37 Hanslik A, Kitzmüller E, Tran US. et al. Monitoring unfractionated heparin in children: a parallel-cohort randomized controlled trial comparing 2 dose protocols. Blood 2015; 126 (18) 2091-2097
- 38 Bhatt MD, Paes BA, Chan AK. How to use unfractionated heparin to treat neonatal thrombosis in clinical practice. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2016; 27 (06) 605-614
- 39 Sidhu M, Strauss KJ, Connolly B. et al. Radiation safety in pediatric interventional radiology. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 2010; 13 (03) 158-166
- 40 Mahesh M. Radiation dose management for fluoroscopically guided interventional medical procedures. Med Phys 2012; 39: 5789-5790
- 41 Fisher RF, Applegate KE, Berkowitz LK. et al. AAPM medical physics practice guideline 12.a: fluoroscopy dose management. J Appl Clin Med Phys 2022; 23 (03) e13526
- 42 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. (2019) AAPM PS8-A: AAPM Position Statement on the Use of Patient Gonadal and Fetal Shielding. Accessed April 27, 2025 at: https://www.aapm.org/org/policies/details.asp?id=2552
- 43 Marsh RM, Silosky M. Patient shielding in diagnostic imaging: discontinuing a legacy practice. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2019; 212 (04) 755-757
- 44 Balter S, Hopewell JW, Miller DL, Wagner LK, Zelefsky MJ. Fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures: a review of radiation effects on patients' skin and hair. Radiology 2010; 254 (02) 326-341
- 45 Greene LA, Goldenberg NA. Deep vein thrombosis: thrombolysis in the pediatric population. Semin Intervent Radiol 2012; 29 (01) 36-43
- 46 Boston Scientific Corp. (2025) AngioJet Thrombectomy System. In: AngioJet Thrombectomy Syst. Accessed September 1, 2025 at: https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/products/thrombectomysystems/angiojet-thrombectomy-system.html
- 47 Inari MEdical. (2025) ClotTriever Thrombectomy System. In: ClotTriever Thrombectomy Syst. Accessed September 1, 2025 at: https://www.inarimedical.com/clottriever-system
- 48 Penumbra, Inc. (2025) Indigo Aspiration System. In: Indigo Aspiration Syst. Accessed September 1, 2025 at: https://www.penumbrainc.com/products/peripheral-thrombectomy-indigo-system/
- 49 Alvi AA. Penumbra's Indigo System With Lightning Intelligent Aspiration -Endovascular Today. In: Endovasc. Today. Accessed April 27, 2025 at: https://evtoday.com/articles/2022-july/penumbras-indigo-system-with-lightning-intelligentaspiration?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- 50 Monroe EJ, Woods MA, Shin DS. et al. Percutaneous treatment of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis in adolescents using large-bore thrombectomy systems. Pediatr Radiol 2023; 53 (13) 2692-2698
- 51 Philips. (2025) Peripheral Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS). Accessed September 1, 2025 at: https://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/technology/peripheral-intravascular-ultrasound
- 52 Luijkx T, Knipe H. et al. Risser staging system | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org. In: Risser Staging Syst. Accessed April 27, 2025 at: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/risser-stagingsystem? lang=us
- 53 Kishore S, Khaja MS, Thornburg B. et al. Antithrombotic therapy after venous interventions: AJR expert panel narrative review. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2022; 219 (02) 175-187
- 54 Clode H, Spencer EB, Nelson J, Horne ES. Efficacy of ultrasound in the evaluation of iliac vein stenting. Phlebology 2025; 40 (02) 110-115

