Abstract:Objective To evaluate the efficacy of iliac vein stent in the treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the lower limbs with iliac vein stenosis or occlusion. Methods A retrospective analysis was made of 80 patients hospitalized for acute DVT in the lower extremities with iliac vein stenosis or occlusion at Weifang People′s Hospital of Shandong Province from January 2016 to January 2018. According to the implantation of iliac vein stent, they were divided into observation group (n=45) and control group (n=35). The observation group underwent implantation of inferior vena cava filter, catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), and iliac vein stent; the control group were treated with an inferior vena cava filter and CDT. The two groups were compared for the postoperative effect, detumescence rate of the affected limbs, venous patency rate, and scores on Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study on Quality of Life/Symptoms (VEINES-QOL/Sym) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS statistics 18.0. Results Before operation, circumference differences in the thigh and calf between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05 for both); after operation, circumference differences in the thigh and calf and difference in the detumescence rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05 for all). The observation group had higher venous patency rates than the control group at 1,3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up [45(100.0%) vs 29(82.8%), 43(95.5%) vs 27(77.1%), 41(91.1%) vs 26(74.2%), and 41(91.1%) vs 25(71.4%) respectively], the differences being statistically significant (P<0.05 for all). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of sequelae of DVT between the observation group and the control group [0(0.00%) vs 4(11.43%), P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the rate of thrombosis recurrence between the two groups [4(8.89%) vs5(14.28%), P>0.05]. VINENES-QOL/SYM questionnaire scores of the two groups were not significantly different before the treatment (P>0.05) but were significantly different after the treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Implantation of iliac vein stent is more effective than catheter-directed thrombolysis in the treatment of DVT of the lower extremity with iliac vein stenosis or occlusion.