What is Thrombectomy?
Blood clots can block blood vessels and prevent blood supply to specific parts of the body. This starves the tissues of oxygen and can damage them. Thrombectomy is a procedure performed to treat and remove blood clots from blood vessels in your body. It is indicated when medications fail to dissolve the clot.
Procedure of Thrombectomy
Before the thrombectomy, your doctor will perform an angiography or venography (X-ray of artery or vein is taken after introducing a dye in the blood vessels) to identify the site of the clot. A blood-thinning medication is given through intravenous route. To perform thrombectomy, your surgeon makes a small incision in the blood vessel of your groin and inserts a catheter (thin long tube). Under the guidance of X-ray, a contrast dye is injected through the catheter to check if the catheter has reached the site of the clot. A small mechanical device or a high-velocity liquid jet present at the tip of the catheter breaks down the clot and removes it.
After the procedure, your doctor may apply compression bandages to your leg to reduce swelling. You may also be asked to walk for a few minutes with intermittent rest over the next few hours. Your doctor will inject intravenous blood-thinning medications to prevent clots after the procedure. Inform your doctor if you experience nose bleeding, blood in stools or urine, bleeding from wounds and stomach or back pain.
Risks and Complications of Thrombectomy
As with any procedure, thrombectomy may involve certain risks and complications. They include:
- Pulmonary embolism (clot in lung artery)
- Excessive bleeding
- Damage to the blood vessels
- Stroke
- Rarely, kidney and heart problems