A novel system to "vacuum" thrombus and tumors from veins used for the first time at UCC MUW

Specialists from the 1st Chair and Department of Cardiology UCC MUW, in cooperation with the team from the Department of Heart, Thoracic and Transplant Surgery UCC MUW, performed the procedure on April 15 using the innovative AngioVac system. The patient was a 38-year-old patient with a primary diagnosis of liver echinococcal cyst, complicated by a septic condition.

- The patient was qualified for aspiration thrombectomy, a procedure to percutaneously remove embolic material from the inferior vena cava spreading into the right atrial cavity. The procedure was a life-saving one - explains Dr. Arkadiusz Pietrasik of the 1st Chair and Department of Cardiology at the University Clinical Center MUW, one of the main surgeons of the performed thrombectomy.

Innovative system for "vacuuming"

That's why specialists decided to use, for the first time at UCC MUW, the AngioVac system. It allows precise, percutaneous removal of thrombus, vegetations or tumors from large venous vessels or cavities of the right heart. This reduces the risk of complications associated with pulmonary embolism. Using a perfusion pump and a dedicated filtration device, the system allows aspiration of embolic material and minimizes perioperative blood loss.

Interdisciplinary medical team

The procedure involved a team consisting of:

  • Main surgeons: Arkadiusz Pietrasik, Radosław Wilimski, Marcin Grabowski
  • Echo navigators: Monika Budnik, Radosław Piątkowski 
  • Anesthesiology team: Andrzej Ostrowski, Jolanta Piwowarska, Wiktor Mroziński
  • Perfusionist team: Marcin Borowicz, Marek Szczerba, Agnieszka  Bocheńska
  • Nursing team: Iwona Wyszomirska, Marta Pezowicz, Agata Dębek, Natalia Dorobek, Wiktoria Bieniek
  • X-ray Technician: Ewa Brauła

The patient was under the care of medical personnel from the Chair and Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery UCC MUW, headed by Prof. Michal Grąt, and medical personnel from the 2nd Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care UCC MUW, headed by Prof. Paweł Andruszkiewicz.

Modern solutions for the benefit of patients

- The University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw continues to improve patient care - comments Prof. Marcin Grabowski, Head of the 1st Chair and Department of Cardiology UCC MUW - The first use of AngioVac is another step toward providing treatment with the most innovative technological solutions.