About the Procedure

Surgical thrombectomy is a type of minimally-invasive surgery to remove a blood clot from inside an artery or vein. During a surgical thrombectomy, a surgeon makes an incision into a blood vessel. Using fluoroscopy, or continuous x-ray, the doctor guides instruments through the patient’s arteries to the clot, extracting the clot all at once to restore blood flow. In some cases, a balloon or other device may be put in the blood vessel to help keep it open.

What Thrombectomy Treats

Your doctor may recommend a thrombectomy for the following conditions: 

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): a blood clot (thrombus) that forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. DVT is considered a serious condition because there is a risk of the clot breaking off and traveling to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). 
  • Ischemic Stroke: a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in an artery leading to the brain, or in an artery in another area of the body that then moves to a brain artery, causing the blood supply to the brain to slow or stop. 

Blood clots can cause a variety of symptoms including swelling, pain, numbness or tingling. Left untreated, they can lead to serious problems such as tissue or organ damage. They can also cause long-term problems with your veins. 

If you would like to schedule an appointment at Preferred Vascular Group to have a consult with a board-certified physician or would like to have one of our highly-trained care providers reach out to you, please click on a button below: