A relationship between the use of AngioJet and the development of AKI was noted, with independent risk factors including hemoglobin <10mg/dL in the immediate postoperative period, a 2-point decrease in hemoglobin level immediately after surgery, history of previous major surgery, and glomerular filtration rate <60mL/min/1.73m² in the first postoperative day.
AngioJet thrombectomy for iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis was associated with the development of acute kidney injury.
Postoperative hemoglobin less than 10mg/dL was an independent risk factor for AKI after AngioJet thrombectomy.
A 2-point decrease in hemoglobin level immediately after surgery was an independent risk factor for AKI.
History of previous major surgery was an independent risk factor for the development of AKI after AngioJet thrombectomy.
A glomerular filtration rate less than 60mL/min/1.73m² on the first postoperative day was an independent risk factor for AKI.
Sex, stent placement, and body mass index were not significantly associated with AKI development after AngioJet thrombectomy.
This research suggests that using the AngioJet device — a catheter-based system that breaks up and removes blood clots — to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the large veins of the pelvis and upper leg carries a risk of causing acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI is a sudden decline in kidney function that can occur as a complication of various medical procedures. The study looked back at 40 patients treated at three hospitals in Brazil and identified which factors were most strongly linked to developing AKI after the procedure. The study found four specific risk factors that independently predicted AKI: having a hemoglobin (red blood cell protein) level below 10mg/dL right after surgery, experiencing a drop of 2 or more points in hemoglobin immediately after the procedure, having a history of a previous major surgery, and having a reduced kidney filtration rate (below 60mL/min/1.73m²) on the first day after surgery. These findings suggest that patients who have some degree of blood loss or anemia after the procedure, or who already have compromised kidney function, are at higher risk. Factors like sex, body weight, and whether a stent was placed during the procedure were not found to be significant risk factors. This research matters because it may help clinicians identify which patients are at greater risk of kidney complications before and after AngioJet thrombectomy, potentially allowing for closer monitoring or preventive measures in high-risk individuals. The AngioJet device can cause breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis), releasing substances that are toxic to the kidneys, which may help explain the observed connection between hemoglobin drops and AKI.
Frade V, Bertoldi V, Lobato Filho M, Gornati V, Campos Júnior W, Wolosker N, et al.. (2026). Assessment of predictive factors for acute kidney injury after thrombectomy using AngioJet for iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis.. Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil). https://doi.org/10.31744/einstein_journal/2026AO2438