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What is thrombectomy?
How does thrombectomy work?
Who is eligible for thrombectomy?
When should a thrombectomy take place?
How long does the procedure take?
What are the risks of thrombectomy?
Find out more
Thrombectomy is a medical procedure used to treat some cases of ischaemic stroke. This type of stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow to part of the brain and accounts for around 85% of strokes.
Thrombectomy is a treatment to remove the blood clot. It should be carried out within the first six hours of a stroke starting to be most effective. If you experience stroke symptoms, it’s important to get to the hospital as quickly as possible for treatment and to see if you’re eligible for the procedure.
The video below explains what a thrombectomy is:
Thrombectomy can have a big impact in preventing and reducing long-term disability often caused by severe strokes. Some doctors call it a close to a miracle treatment.
Thrombectomy is a life-changing treatment for stroke which patients can have within the first few hours of stroke. I would say the most amazing and the satisfying thing when you do the procedure is when you see a patient recover on the table.
- Dr Sanjeev Nayak (Interventional Neuro Radiologist)
Read about Dr Sanjeev Nayak’s work.
How does thrombectomy work?
Thrombectomy involves using a specially-designed clot removal device inserted through a catheter to pull or suck out the clot, to restore blood flow. The device can remove clots that are too big to be broken down by clot-busting drugs or thrombolysis.
Who is eligible for thrombectomy?
It is thought that up to 10% of stroke patients may be eligible for thrombectomy every year. That’s more than 9,000 people across the UK. For those people, it is a powerful intervention.
When should a thrombectomy take place?
Eligible patients should be treated with thrombectomy as soon as possible after a stroke. Thrombectomy is most effective when performed within six hours after stroke symptoms begin.
If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke, it's important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
How long does the procedure take?
The procedure can take between around one to three hours.
What are the risks of thrombectomy?
As with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with thrombectomy which a doctor should explain before it is carried out. However, studies have also shown that, on average, thrombectomy does not cause any greater risk of death, bleeding or secondary stroke, compared to other types of stroke treatment.
I think thrombectomy is fantastic. I think it should be made available everywhere. Get it done quickly and get rid of the clot. It’s brilliant technology. Without the thrombectomy I would have been in a much worse state.
- Gerald, Stroke survivor
Read Gerald’s experience of thrombectomy in Stroke News.
Find out more
- Information for stroke survivors on the diagnosis to discharge journey
- Support for stroke survivors who've had a stroke, online, over the phone and in person.
- Information for new carers looking for support and useful guides.
#SavingBrains
There are currently not enough trained doctors to be able to provide a 24/7 service in all areas of the UK. A UK roll-out of thrombectomy could mean around an additional 2,420 stroke survivors every year are left without disability following their stroke.
We're campaigning for all eligible patients to be able to access this game-changing treatment as quickly as possible.