Mechanical Thrombectomy Addressing Internal Jugular Vein Thrombosis: A Retrospective Analysis of 24 Cases
Akram Albeer, Abdullah ShaikhAbstract
Background:
Internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVthr) is a condition that is common in many high-risk patients. The standard treatment for IJVthr has been anticoagulation. For patients who require long-term intravenous access, vessel preservation is paramount. Mechanical thrombectomy may be a favorable treatment for maintaining vessel patency and improving patient outcomes in IJVthr. This study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of mechanical thrombectomy to treat IJVthr.
Methods:
This is a single-center retrospective study including all patients who were treated with mechanical thrombectomy for IJVthr between January 2022 and December 2025.
Results:
The study included 24 internal jugular vein thrombectomies performed over 3 years at the study institution. The mean age was 65.4 years, including 13 (54.1%) females and 11 (45.8%) males. The average time from symptom onset to presentation to the initial medical provider was 3 days. Technical success was defined as complete or near complete removal of thrombus with restored flow on venography in the jugular vein, which was 100%. 30-day follow-up imaging was performed in 22 cases (91.7%). On follow-up, 18 (81.8%) patients maintained complete patency (no residual thrombus with good color flow on ultrasound). Of patients who maintained complete patency, the average time from procedure to symptom resolution was 4 days. Symptom resolution defined clinical success. No cases involved 30-day device-related events or vessel perforation. No patient presented to the hospital during the follow-up period with a new diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.
Conclusion:
These early findings suggest that mechanical thrombectomy can safely and efficiently debulk IJVthr. Symptom improvement and vessel preservation were noted on follow-up.