Thrombectomy is a procedure that removes a blood clot. In this procedure, your doctor will insert a catheter into a vein in your groin area and navigate it to the clot. In the case of a balloon embolectomy, the catheter will have a balloon on the end, which will be inflated once the catheter passes the clot; as the catheter is removed, the clot comes with it. In other cases, the catheter uses suction to remove the clot instead of a balloon (aspiration embolectomy). Thrombectomy can also be done surgically, in which case your surgeon will make a small cut into the affected vessel to remove the clot from the artery.
