How Are Blood Clots Removed: Medical Procedures and Treatment Options Explained

Blood clots can block blood flow to an organ or vein and lead to serious medical conditions like stroke, pulmonary embolism or even gangrene. While some types of clots dissolve with medication, others cannot disperse themselves on their own and must be broken up and dispersed manually by medical personnel.

WakeMed vascular surgeons offer numerous minimally invasive techniques to remove life-threatening blood clots. Additionally, they may recommend anticoagulant medication (blood thinners) in order to help prevent future clots from forming.

How Are Blood Clots Removed?

Blood clots can be removed via thrombectomy, involving clot removal from arteries or veins. Types include surgical and minimally invasive procedures, chosen based on clot location and severity.

Surgical thrombectomy: Surgeon cuts into a blood vessel, removes the clot, and repairs it. Used for limb or organ clots.

Minimally invasive: A catheter inserted via groin/arm vein, guided to clot location. Thin tube or catheter with balloon/stent may be used. Alternatively, a catheter with holes sprays salt water to dissolve and remove clot fragments.

Medication usually dissolves clots, but if not possible, an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter can be implanted to prevent clot migration to the lungs.

All treatments have risks and benefits, determined by the individual case. Consult a specialist in vascular issues for the best treatment.

Thrombolytic Therapy

If a blood clot is restricting circulation in an arm or leg vein, doctors use thrombolytic therapy as a procedure and treatment option to break it up. Medicines called rtPA and urokinase are injected directly into the bloodstream to dissolve recently formed clots; catheter-directed thrombolysis also works.

Before initiating thrombolytic therapy, doctors test your blood to make sure it’s safe. They then administer a sedative and numb the area where they’ll place a long, thin tube (catheter).

With help from X-ray imaging technology, they guide the catheter directly to where your clot exists before injecting medication directly into it and monitoring for its effects on dissolving it.

Once the clot dissipates, doctors can remove the catheter and close the incision site.

They may ask you to remain in hospital for one to three days for observation before returning home; taking blood-thinning medication when possible after leaving will also be beneficial – compression stockings may need to be worn in cases involving legs or arms as part of treatment – and you can return to regular activities once bleeding has stopped and your blood pressure has stabilized.

Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis

At this stage, an interventional radiologist uses X-ray imaging to guide them as they insert a long thin catheter (catheter) through your skin and into your vein or artery where a blood clot exists.

Utilizing catheter manipulation and medication delivery directly into the site of the clot for dissolution; in some instances this may happen naturally as medication is given directly; otherwise mechanical devices may be employed by the radiologist to break up or “suck away” clot from its location.

Thrombolytic therapy works quickly to dissolve blood clots and restore blood flow within veins. It is most frequently administered under imaging guidance in an interventional radiology suite.

Your radiologist will administer a sedative and numb the area where an IV is inserted in your arm or leg before administering an angioplastiy procedure to clear away blood clots in your popliteal (located behind your knee) or other leg vein.

When the catheter tip reaches a blood clot, medication will be released through it to break it up and improve circulation; most blood clots dissolve within one to two days with this approach; your doctor may place a stent to prevent it from closing again while for severe cases they may use an angioplastioplasty procedure to open up nearby arteries to increase blood flow to increase circulation further.

Surgical Intervention

Surgical thrombectomy is an emergency procedure that uses surgery to extract large blood clots from veins or arteries, often to treat them when they cause severe tissue damage. A physician who specializes in blood vessel treatments (also called a “vascular specialist”) may perform this treatment.

If a blood clot in your legs or arms dislodges and travels to your lungs, it can result in life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE). PE may also lead to post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS).

Under surgical thrombectomy, doctors make an incision directly into an affected blood vessel and use medical tools to break up or remove any clots that form, typically through catheter-based methods but sometimes open surgery may also be performed.

Before having a thrombectomy performed, anesthesia and sedation will be administered through a vein in your arm. You will be asked to discontinue certain medicines and discuss any allergies with your physician.

Once the procedure starts, you will change into a hospital gown and be given an intravenous line so medications and fluids can be delivered into the vein during the procedure – you’ll also be monitored carefully for signs of bleeding and other complications; once the clot has been extracted from its source vessel and restored blood flow will be restored by your surgeon once you finish removing its source and closing its blood vessel to restore blood supply and restore flow back into its source – before being monitored further after removal to restore blood supply to your organs or to restore health!

What Are the Risks Associated With Blood Clot Removal Surgery

Blood clot removal surgery (surgical thrombectomy) carries its own risks, including:

– Severe bleeding
– Infection
– Blood vessel damage at clot site
– Anesthesia reaction
– Pulmonary embolism
– Discovery of additional vessel issues requiring more surgery
– Hair removal in surgery area

Risks differ per case. Consult a blood vessel specialist to discuss options and risks before opting for surgical thrombectomy.

How Long Does It Take To Recover From a Thrombectomy

Recovery time after thrombectomy varies based on factors like clot location, health, and procedure type. Key points:

1. Procedure duration: Typically 1-2 hours, with additional prep and recovery time.

2. Anesthesia/sedation: Given through a vein for relaxation during the procedure.

3. Post-procedure monitoring: Duration depends on clot severity; some may go home on the same day, others stay longer.

4. Home care instructions: Provider will detail wound care and medications.

5. Recovery timeline:

• Avoid strenuous activity for around 3 weeks.
• Limit alcohol (women: 1 drink/day, men: 2 drinks/day).
• Ice the incision as directed for pain, swelling, and bruising.
• Take prescribed anticoagulants (blood thinners).
• Use pain medication as needed.
• Begin moving shortly after the procedure.

Minimally invasive thrombectomy may have a shorter recovery. Your provider will tailor your timeline.

Consult your healthcare provider for personalized recovery guidance after a thrombectomy.

What Are the Non-surgical Methods for Treating Blood Clots

Non-surgical methods for treating blood clots include:

1. Blood-thinning medications: Anticoagulants prevent clot growth, while thrombolytics dissolve sudden clots.
2. Thrombolytic drug therapy: These medications break up clots and require careful bleeding risk assessment.
3. Catheter-directed treatments: Minimally invasive, using a catheter to break up or dissolve clots at the site.
4. Mechanical thrombectomy: Minimally invasive clot removal, often for severe cases.

Not all clots need treatment; the approach depends on the case. Consult a specialist for personalized guidance.