Embolectomy


Embolectomy is the emergency surgical removal of emboli which are blocking blood circulation. It usually involves removal of thrombi, and is then referred to as thrombectomy. Embolectomy is an emergency procedure often as the last resort because permanent occlusion of a significant blood flow to an organ leads to necrosis. Other involved therapeutic options are anticoagulation and thrombolysis.

Medical uses

Surgical embolectomy for massive pulmonary embolism has become a rare procedure and is often viewed as a last resort. Thrombolytic therapy has become the treatment of choice.
Surgical or catheter embolectomy is normally performed in patients with pulmonary embolism. Embolectomy is used for patients with persisting shock despite supportive care and who have an absolute contraindication for thrombolytic therapy. And although other treatments have improved urgent surgical embolectomy or catheter embolectomy may be a life saving procedure in severe pulmonary embolism.
Embolectomies are performed as limb-sparing techniques for arterial embolisms in acute limb ischemia. However, there are also other options, such as catheter-directed thrombolysis and anticoagulation with observation.
It can also be used for other ischemias due to embolism for example mesenteric ischemia and stroke.

Methods

Catheter embolectomy

Balloon embolectomy

Typically this is done by inserting a catheter with an inflatable balloon attached to its tip into an artery, passing the catheter tip beyond the clot, inflating the balloon, and removing the clot by withdrawing the catheter. The catheter is called Fogarty, named after its inventor Thomas J. Fogarty.
Possible complications of balloon embolectomy include intimal lesions, which can lead to another thrombosis. The vessel may also be affected by a dissection or rupture. The procedure may lead to cholesterol embolism from atherosclerotic plaques.

Aspiration embolectomy

Catheter embolectomy is also used for aspiration embolectomy, where the thrombus is removed by suction rather than pushing with a balloon. It is a rapid and effective way of removing thrombi in thromboembolic occlusions of the limb arteries below the inguinal ligament, as in leg infarction.

Surgical embolectomy

Surgical embolectomy is the simple surgical removal of a clot following incision into a vessel by open surgery on the artery.

Outcome

Outcome of embolectomy varies with size and location of the embolus.
In pulmonary embolism recent data shows mortality as being approximately 20%. Although this is a high mortality, it may have life-saving potential in some instances.

Background

are abnormal masses of material that are carried in the blood stream from one part of the circulation to another causing a blockage of a blood vessel that leads to lack of oxygen supply and finally infarction of tissue downstream of the embolus.
The most common type of emboli are a blood clot generated by thrombosis which has then broken off and is then transported in the blood stream.
There are two areas where emboli can form and therefore impact: