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Saving Lives and Limbs: A Primer
It happens in a heartbeat. A blood clot (thrombus) develops, stopping the flow of blood through an artery or vein, putting your life or limbs in peril. Nearly as quickly, the AngioJet® Rheolytic™ Thrombectomy System can help restore blood flow. It is effective, safe, and minimally invasive.
Aging, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, high cholesterol: these and other conditions contribute to the formation of plaque, which in turn causes arteries to narrow. When the surface of the plaque ruptures, lipids are released which can interact with blood to form a blood clot, called a thrombus. A thrombus further reduces or blocks (occludes) blood flow, sometimes leading to a heart attack, stroke, or loss of a limb.
A thrombus can develop anywhere in the body and is often considered life threatening. Action must be taken to remove the thrombus (thrombectomy) and restore blood flow quickly. And that’s where Possis comes in.
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Stages of Vessel Occlusion and Treatment
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| We all start out with normal, healthy vessels free from obstruction |
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| As we age, most of us develop some vascular deposits called plaque |
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| When severe, the hard, inflexible plaque can rupture and cause thrombus to form. Thrombus can slow or totally obstruct blood flow |
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| Angiojet thrombectomy quickly removes the thrombus, restoring blood flow, giving doctors a clear view of the damaged vessel |
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| With the thrombus removed, the narrowing in the vessel is ready for further treatment if needed |
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| Other approaches, such as atherectomy, may be used to reduce the plaque by grinding, cutting or shaving |
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| Stents are now a common way to treat plaque and widen the vessel |
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