Thrombectomy Overview
Blood clotting occurs due to various factors, leading to the obstruction of blood flow. At Azura Vascular Surgery Center in Long Beach, our team of vascular specialists utilizes minimally invasive techniques such as thrombectomy to address and eliminate blood clots affecting your dialysis access.
What is a Thrombectomy Procedure?
In the event of blood clots forming in a dialysis access, it becomes crucial to address the clotting for the restoration of proper blood flow through the access. The treatment for this is a Thrombectomy.
A catheter-guided procedure known as thrombectomy is employed to remove blood clots. At Azura Vascular Care in Long Beach, our specially trained physicians conduct this outpatient procedure to eliminate clots from fistulas or grafts, using a purpose-designed instrument and avoiding the necessity for more invasive methods.
During the thrombectomy, a local anesthetic is administered to numb the area, and if necessary, a moderate sedative is given to enhance relaxation. Our interventional vascular specialists, guided by X-ray technology, insert a catheter into the access point. This catheter is utilized to break up and extract the clot, and in some instances, a specialized instrument may be introduced through the catheter for further assistance. Once the clot has been successfully retrieved, the catheter is removed, concluding the procedure. This efficient process takes approximately an hour, and no overnight stay is required.