Introduction
The AngioVac device (AngioDynamics, Latham, NY) is currently approved
for suction embolectomy of venous thromboemboli. The AngioVac system
consists of a catheter with a funnel-shaped tip connected to a
veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal bypass circuit that filters aspirated
blood before returning it systemically. The literature documenting its
use unanimously reports using a centrifugal pump, as recommended by the
manufacturer.1-3 However, roller pumps are an
attractive alternative in this situation due to lower cost, especially
in resource poor settings or during times of severe equipment shortage.
Such a situation occurred at our institution during the peak of the
COVID-19 pandemic. We report the use of a roller pump with the AngioVac
device to extract a right atrial (RA) clot-in-transit in a patient with
pulmonary embolism (PE) and severe cardiogenic shock.
Informed consent was waived under guidelines set forth by our
institution’s Institutional Review Board.