In mechanical thrombectomy, a guidewire is advanced to guide the stent retriever or other devices into the occluded blood vessel to remove the clot.
Steps:
1. Initial Access:
The procedure begins with gaining access to the arterial system, often through the femoral artery.
2. Guidewire Placement:
A guidewire, a thin, flexible wire, is introduced into the artery and guided to the target blood vessel where the clot is located.
3. Guidewire as a Pathway:
The guidewire provides a stable and maneuverable pathway for the stent retriever, aspiration catheter, or other devices to follow.
4. Device Advancement:
The stent retriever or other devices are advanced over the guidewire to reach the thrombus.
5. Thrombus Removal:
Once the device is in place, it's used to mechanically remove the clot, either by breaking it up, aspirating it, or a combination of both.
6. Withdrawal: After the thrombus is removed, the device and guidewire are carefully withdrawn from the body.
