Current status of pharmacological thrombolytic therapy and mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a highly prevalent clinical problem associated with significant mortality and morbidity. In the United States alone, it is estimated that DVT affects approximately 50 per 100,000 people per year. This results in >600,000 inpatient and outpatient treatments per year and accounts for approximately 100,000 deaths from thromboembolic complications. Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is associated with serious long-term physical, social and economic sequelae for patients. In this article, we attempt to perform a contemporary review of the literature pertaining to the use of thrombolytic therapy and endovascular thrombectomy in the treatment of acute DVT.