Abstract:Background and Aims Improving intraoperative thrombus clearance is critical for reducing the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in patients with acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (IFVT). The fast-track thrombolysis protocol (FTTP), which incorporates balloon-mediated thrombus fragmentation into conventional percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT), may enhance thrombus removal efficiency. However, comparative evidence between FTTP and standard PMT remains limited. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of FTTP versus conventional PMT in the treatment of acute IFVT.Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 100 consecutive patients with acute IFVT who underwent endovascular treatment between May 2022 and December 2024. Among them, 38 patients received FTTP and 62 received conventional PMT. The primary endpoint was the immediate intraoperative thrombus clearance rate, with technical success defined as ≥50% thrombus removal in the iliofemoral vein segment. Secondary endpoints included the use of adjunctive catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) or large-bore catheter aspiration, intraoperative thrombus embolization, and 30-day postoperative thrombus recurrence and iliofemoral vein patency.Results Baseline characteristics, including age, affected limb, symptom duration, and history of malignancy, were comparable between the two groups (all P>0.05). The immediate technical success rate was significantly higher in the FTTP group than in the PMT group [100.0% (38/38) vs. 82.3% (51/62), P=0.006]. No patients in the FTTP group required adjunctive CDT, whereas 8 patients in the PMT group did (P=0.023). No intraoperative thrombus embolization occurred in either group. At 30-day follow-up, thrombus recurrence rates and iliofemoral vein patency were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05).Conclusion FTTP significantly improves immediate thrombus clearance in patients with acute IFVT and reduces the need for adjunctive CDT without increasing the risk of intraoperative embolization or early postoperative recurrence, demonstrating favorable efficacy and safety.