Page 42 - Virtual Vascular Volume 7

FOGARTY EMBOLECTOMY CATHETER
Both feet were well perfused after the procedure. Both femoropopliteal pulses were
palpable, and distal pulses (dorsalis pedis and posteriotibial pulses) were palpable or
easily detectable using handheld Doppler devices.
If the calves became hard after the procedure, this may be due to compartment
syndrome secondary to reperfusion, and fasciotomy would be indicated.
Heparin was given and patient underwent further investigations to look for the cause of
the thrombus. These included echocardiogram, Holter tape, thrombophilia and
autoimmune screens. Sometimes occult malignancy may cause hypercoagulation status
and led to thrombosis in situ. Long term anticoagulation was indicated in this patient.
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ogarty arterial embolectomy catheter is a device developed in 1961 by Dr.
FThomas J. Fogarty to remove fresh emboli in the arterial system. It consists
of a hollow catheter with an inflatable balloon attached to its tip. The catheter
is inserted into the blood vessel through a clot. The balloon is then inflated
to extract the clot from the vessel by withdrawal. It is available in different
lengths and sizes, and is often colour coded by size. The most commonly used
sizes for lower limbs are Fr 3 (green) and Fr 4 (red, shown here). Modifica-
tions are also made for removal of more adherent clots.
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