Novel Use of the Penumbra CAT 12 Lightning Aspiration System for the Treatment of a Complex Thrombus

• Published in: Cardiovascular revascularization medicine 2023-08, Vol.53, p.S271-S275
• Main Authors: Thompson, Luke, Alkhayru, Ali, Ahmad, Usman, Hughes, John, Ebrahimi, Ali, Degheim, George, Jabbar, Ali Abdul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AngioVac; Aspiration thrombectomy; Cardiac implantable electronic devices; Inari FlowTriever; Intracardiac masses; Penumbra CAT 12; Percutaneous aspiration
• ISSN: 1553-8389; 1878-0938
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carrev.2022.06.006

Debulking procedures using aspiration devices have been previously described in the literature to treat vegetations or thrombi on intracardiac structures such as the tricuspid valve. Transcatheter therapy has also been shown to be an effective alternative to surgical treatment for managing high risk or non-surgical patients. Furthermore, aspiration procedures can help identify the unique etiologies of intracardiac masses which can greatly impact differing treatment modalities. Utilization of aspiration devices combined with blood-loss limiting technologies have led to an increased interest in using aspiration systems to address a wider array of clinical situations that can occur. Herein we describe our experience in using the Penumbra CAT 12 Lightning Aspiration System in addressing and treating a mobile mass attached to the lead of an implantable cardiac device. •Recent blood-loss limiting techniques have led to an increased interest of using percutaneous aspiration devices.•First reported application of the Penumbra CAT 12 system to safely remove an intracardiac mass attached to an ICD lead.•Debulking of endocarditis in non-surgical patients has been previously described as an alternative to surgery.•Furthermore, aspiration procedures can help provide qualitative information as to the etiology of the intracardiac masses.