Page 43 - Virtual Vascular Volume 7
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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.
ogarty arterial embolectomy catheter is a device developed in 1961 by Dr.
If the calves became hard after the procedure, this may be due to compartment FThomas J. Fogarty to remove fresh emboli in the arterial system. It consists
syndrome secondary to reperfusion, and fasciotomy would be indicated. 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
Heparin was given and patient underwent further investigations to look for the cause of to extract the clot from the vessel by withdrawal. It is available in different
the thrombus. These included echocardiogram, Holter tape, thrombophilia and lengths and sizes, and is often colour coded by size. The most commonly used
autoimmune screens. Sometimes occult malignancy may cause hypercoagulation status sizes for lower limbs are Fr 3 (green) and Fr 4 (red, shown here). Modifica-
and led to thrombosis in situ. Long term anticoagulation was indicated in this patient. tions are also made for removal of more adherent clots.
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