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Treatment of Arterial Blockages and Blood Clots

Arteries are vital vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to our body. However, these vessels can narrow or become blocked due to various reasons. This can lead to insufficient supply of nutrients to tissues and result in serious health issues. These blockages and clots can be effectively treated by interventional radiologists under angiography guidance, without the need for surgery.

What Causes Arterial Blockages?

Arterial blockage can be categorized into three groups based on its cause:

  1. Embolism (blood clot traveling): When a clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream, blocking an artery.

  2. Atherosclerosis: The buildup of plaques (cholesterol, calcium, and other substances) in the artery walls.

  3. Thrombosis: The formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel.

What happens in case of arterial occlusion?

The area supplied by the blocked artery will show symptoms (for example, if the leg arteries are blocked, the symptoms will appear in the leg, while if the artery supplying the arm is blocked, the symptoms will appear in the arm – in other words, symptoms will occur in the area of the blocked artery).

If the blockage is mild or the artery narrows slowly, the body adapts by developing collateral pathways, so the symptoms are usually milder. In these patients, there may be no complaints at rest, but the most typical symptom is pain that occurs with exertion and disappears with rest.

If the degree of blockage increases or appears suddenly, the symptoms are more severe. They may present with sudden pain, numbness, and loss of function, requiring emergency treatment.

Interventional Radiology Treatment Methods

  1. Angioplasty and Stenting

    Angioplasty: The procedure involves inserting a balloon into the blocked artery and inflating it to widen the vessel.

    Stenting: A metal stent is placed in the expanded area to keep the artery open.

  2. Thrombolytic Therapy

    Special medications are injected into the clot site to dissolve the clot.

  3. Mechanical Thrombectomy

    Using a catheter, the clot is physically removed to restore blood flow.

Advantages

  • There is no surgical incision, so tissue damage is minimal or absent.

  • No noticeable scar, as the procedure involves small entry points.

  • The treatment results in less pain and a shorter recovery time.

  • It carries a lower risk compared to traditional surgery.

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