Embolectomy is the emergency surgical removal of emboli or thrombi (blood clots) which are blocking blood circulation.
Some facts about Embolectomy:
- The removal of a blood clot (thrombus) that is keeping blood from flowing through a blood vessel normally is called as an embolectomy.
- The blood clot can be formed in any one part of your body and also can moved somewhere else, for example to your lungs, which is an embolus.
- The type of clot is a thrombus if the blood clot have formed directly in the place where it is causing problems.
- An embolectomy/thrombectomy is performed by a surgeon or a doctor trained in minimally invasive procedures.
- This can be an urgent procedure depending on the size and location of the clot, because the clot prevents blood from getting to an important part of your body.
- Your blood also needs to be able to clot so you don't bleed too much when you have a cut.
- You may need to remove the clot if you have blood that tries to clot too much in places it shouldn't.
- If there is a blood clot in your leg, it can travel to your lungs and lead to a condition known as pulmonary embolism.
- You may need an embolectomy or thrombectomy procedure in this case as it can not be taken care with medications.
Preparation for Embolectomy:
- A transesophageal echocardiogram is a type of imaging that uses ultrasound to show your heart in motion, which is set up to use during your surgical embolectomy.
- Your healthcare team gets an ultrasound machine ready for a catheter embolectomy, to help them find the clot and sets up an angiogram to help them put the catheter in the right place.
- You will receive some form of anesthesia for either type, so you don't feel pain during the procedure.
Procedure for Embolectomy:
Your healthcare provider may use one of two methods of removing your blood clot including Catheter embolectomy or Surgical embolectomy depending on the size of your blood clot.
Procedure for Catheter embolectomy:
- Numbing medicine will be injected into your skin before making a small cut.
- A small needle will be put through the cut and into your blood vessel, which may be in your neck or your inguinal (groin) area.
- A catheter will be placed into your blood vessel and is gently pushed along the blood vessels and placed where the clot is.
- X-rays will be used during this step.
- A catheter will be used to aspirate the clot out of the blood vessel, like a vacuum.
- This step will be repeated until enough clot is vacuumed out and blood flow to that area is better.
- The catheter will be removed from your body and a bandage will be placed over the small cut in your skin.
- Pressure may be placed over the skin cut for several minutes to make sure there isn't too much bleeding.
Procedure for Surgical pulmonary embolectomy:
- A cut will be made down the middle of your chest (median sternotomy).
- Your pericardium, the sac surrounding your heart will be opened.
- Cardiopulmonary bypass which is a machine that takes over for your heart and lungs will be used.
- A cut will be made in your main pulmonary artery and is extended to where the artery splits.
- Blood clots will be removed.
- A vena cava filter may be received by some people to catch future blood clots, which keeps them from becoming another pulmonary (lung) embolus..
