Angiojet Thrombectomy
Why
is the doctor performing this procedure?
To use jet
pump mechanics to break apart and remove harmful blood clots in a coronary
or peripheral artery.
What
is the procedure?
Angiojet thrombectomy is
a catheter-based procedure used for thrombolysis
(see Thrombolytic Treatment for other therapy options).
"Thrombus" is a blood clot; "lysis"
means to break apart. So, angiojet thrombectomy is used to break up a blood clot that is
causing partial or full obstruction of blood flow in an artery. Angiojet thrombectomy is
often used prior to angioplasty with or without stent placement, to
remove dangerous blood clots, making the angioplasty procedure safer and
more effective.
The angiojet is a tiny device attached to a catheter that
is inserted into an artery in the groin (the femoral artery). The
catheter (with angiojet attached) is advanced
to the peripheral artery containing the blood clot. Once properly
positioned, the pump of the angiojet is
activated, delivering a saline solution under high pressure out thru the
pump jets, into the artery, and directly at the blood clot. These saline
jets create a powerful vacuum within the artery, breaking up the clot,
and removing clot pieces out thru the catheter and into the pump. The
catheter with angiojet device is removed,
pressure is applied to stop bleeding, and the patient must rest flat for
several hours.
Where
is the procedure performed?
In the
Catheterization Lab. For non-coronary arteries it can also be performed
in the Interventional Radiology Suite.
How
long does this procedure take?
Angiojet thrombectomy
itself takes only a few minutes; the entire catheter-based procedure
takes about an hour.
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