Thrombectomy Health Dictionary

The formation of a thrombus (blood clot) in an undamaged blood vessel. A thrombus that forms within an artery supplying the heart muscle (coronary thrombosis) is the usual cause of myocardial infarction. A thrombus in an artery of the brain (cerebral thrombosis) is a common cause of stroke. Thrombi sometimes form in veins, either just below the skin or in deeper veins (see thrombosis, deep vein).In arteries, thrombus formation may be encouraged by atherosclerosis, smoking, hypertension, and damage to blood vessel walls from arteritis and phlebitis.

An increased clotting tendency may occur in pregnancy, when using oral contraceptives, or through prolonged immobility.

An arterial thrombosis may cause no symptoms until blood flow is impaired.

Then, there is reduced tissue or organ function and sometimes severe pain.

Venous thrombosis may also cause pain and swelling.

Diagnosis is made by doppler ultrasound.

In some cases, angiography or venography may also be used.

Treatment may include anticoagulant drugs or thrombolytic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibiotic drugs.

In life-threatening cases, thrombectomy may be needed.... thrombosis

The formation of a thrombus within deep-lying veins in the leg. The cause is usually a combination of slow blood flow through 1 part of the body (such as when sitting for long periods or when the tissues are compressed, as occurs in long-haul aircraft flights) and an increase in the clotting tendency of the blood, which occurs with dehydration, after surgery or injury, during pregnancy, and in women taking oral contraceptives. Deep vein thrombosis may also be caused by polycythaemia. Deep vein thrombosis is common in people with heart failure and those who have had a stroke or who have been immobile for long periods. Clots in the leg veins may cause pain, tenderness, swelling, discoloration, and ulceration of the skin, but they can be symptomless. A deep vein thrombosis is not necessarily serious in itself, but part of the clot may break off and travel in the bloodstream to the lungs. This is known as a pulmonary embolism.

A diagnosis is made by doppler ultrasound scanning.

Treatment depends on the site and extent of the clots.

Small clots may not need treatment if they are confined to the calf and the patient is mobile.

Otherwise, anticoagulant drugs or thrombolytic drugs are given.

If there is a high risk of a pulmonary embolism, thrombectomy may be performed.... thrombosis, deep vein

n. obstruction of a vein by a blood clot, without preceding inflammation of its wall. It is most common within the deep veins of the calf of the leg – deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – in contrast to *thrombophlebitis, which affects superficial leg veins. Prolonged immobility, heart failure, pregnancy, injury, and surgery predispose to thrombosis by encouraging sluggish blood flow. Many of these conditions are associated with changes in the clotting factors in the blood that increase the tendency to thrombosis; these changes also occur in some women taking oral contraceptives.

The affected leg may become swollen and tender. The main danger is that the clot may become detached and give rise to *pulmonary embolism. Regular leg exercises help to prevent deep vein thrombosis, and anticoagulant drugs (such as heparin and warfarin) are used in prevention and treatment. Large clots may be removed surgically in the operation of thrombectomy to relieve leg swelling.... phlebothrombosis