Are you suffering from blood clots in your veins? Let's talk about Embolectomy surgery!

Have you ever heard of blood clots that travel through the blood vessels inside our bodies? In fact, blood clots are very important to stop bleeding when our bodies are injured. But sometimes, for no reason, if blood clots form inside the blood vessels, it can be a little dangerous. Because these blood clots can obstruct the blood flow and cause serious problems. In such cases, a special surgery to remove those blood clots is called an Embolectomy. Today, we will talk about this simply, in a way that you can understand.

Simply put, what is Embolectomy?

Embolectomy is the surgical removal of a blood clot that is stuck in a blood vessel (blood vessel). This is sometimes called thrombectomy. There is a slight difference between these two names. Let's understand that too.

Imagine a blood clot forming in a large blood vessel in your leg. If this blood clot stays in place, we call it a thrombus . Now imagine a small piece of this blood clot breaks off, travels with the blood, and goes to your lungs and gets stuck in a small blood vessel there. Similarly, a blood clot that forms in one place, travels to another place and gets stuck is called an embolus .

This operation is performed by a surgeon or a doctor trained in minimally invasive techniques. Depending on where the blood clot is located, this can be a very emergency operation . If the clot blocks the blood supply to a vital organ in the body, it can be life-threatening.

Who needs this surgery? In what situations?

Deep Vein Thrombosis is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein in the leg. If this blood clot breaks away and travels to the lungs, it can cause a serious condition called Pulmonary Embolism . If this condition cannot be controlled with medication, the doctor may decide to perform an Embolectomy.

In general, some people are more at risk of developing blood clots than others. This can be due to several factors.

• For those with heart disease
• For those with obesity
• During pregnancy
• In cancer cases
• For people with certain genetic diseases that affect blood clotting

Why would a doctor recommend this surgery?

Most people with a blood clot are first given blood-thinning medications, but surgery may be necessary in the following cases:

• If you cannot be given anticoagulants or thrombolytics for any reason.
• If, despite giving those medications, the blood clot does not dissolve and the condition worsens.
• There is a risk of a condition called paradoxical embolism , which is the possibility of a blood clot traveling through a small hole in the heart and traveling to a vital organ like the brain.

Usually, a decision like this is made by a team of doctors who come together and carefully examine the patient's condition.

Let's learn step by step how the surgery is performed.

This surgery can be performed in two main ways. The doctor will choose the best method depending on the size and location of the blood clot.

What happens before the surgery?

While preparing you for surgery, the medical team will prepare the necessary tests and equipment.

• If an open surgery (Surgical Embolectomy) is performed, preparations will be made for a scan called a transesophageal echocardiogram to monitor the heart's function during the surgery.
• Catheter embolectomy uses an ultrasound machine to locate the exact location of the blood clot and an X-ray technique called an angiogram to guide the catheter.

No matter which method of surgery is performed, you will be given anesthesia so that you will not feel any pain.

What happens during surgery

The table below will help us clearly understand the difference between these two methods and how they are performed.

Some patients also have a small device called a vena cava filter implanted to prevent future blood clots from traveling to the lungs.

What happens after the surgery?

After the surgery is complete, if you had open surgery, the incisions inside and outside will be sewn up, and you will be removed from the heart-lung machine. If you had a catheter, the small incision will be tightened and bandaged.

After surgery, you will likely:

• You will have to continue taking anticoagulants to thin your blood.
• You will need to have another scan (Transthoracic echocardiogram) to check the heart's function.
• You may have to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for a few days.

Let's also talk about the pros and cons (risks)

Like any medical treatment, this one has both benefits and risks.

However, it is important that we are aware of the risks that come with this surgery.

Recovery and when to see a doctor again

You will need to stay in the hospital for a few days after the surgery. You will be allowed to go home once your breathing and heart function are back to normal. Recovery is usually quicker after the catheter procedure than after open surgery.

In the past, a significant number of people who underwent this surgery died. However, with the advancement of medical science, that situation has changed a lot . Today, the risk of death from this surgery has come down to between 5% and 16%. A survey has found that 73% of people who underwent this surgery are still alive and well after five years.

Pay attention to these signs!

If you experience any of these symptoms after returning home, you should notify your doctor immediately .

• Difficulty breathing
• Signs of infection in the incision (swelling, redness, pus drainage)
• Chest pain
• Heart palpitations
• Abnormal bleeding

They look the same, but they're different! (Other treatments)

There are a few other words that sound similar to embolectomy. Let's take a look at the differences between them.

Embolectomy and Endarterectomy

Embolectomy is the removal of a blood clot. Endarterectomy is the surgical removal of fatty deposits (plaque) that build up inside a blood vessel. This is done to prevent blood vessel blockage.

Embolectomy and Thrombolytic therapy

Embolectomy is a physical procedure that involves surgically removing the blood clot. Thrombolytic therapy involves injecting medication into a vein to dissolve the blood clot inside the body. This medication can sometimes cause bleeding in other areas, such as the brain.

As you can see, there are many different ways to treat blood clots. Your doctor will decide which treatment is best for you and the safest for you. If you or someone you know is scheduled to have this type of surgery, don't be afraid to ask your doctor any questions you may have about it.