Two new devices— Inari Medical’s FlowTriever for Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and ClotTriever System for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) — now give Methodist Hospitals’ cardiologists a minimally invasive way to treat these life-threatening conditions, greatly reducing the risk of bleeding and shortening the patient’s hospital stay. Methodist is the first Northwest Indiana hospital to use FlowTriever to remove a pulmonary embolism.
FlowTriever, the first FDA-approved mechanical thrombectomy device purposely designed to treat PE and ClotTriever, a similar device for treating DVT, represent an entirely new approach to the treatment of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. With these devices, a catheter is inserted through a vein and threaded to the site of the clot. Suction is used to pull the clot out of the vessel and the body.
Until now, the first line of treatment for blood clots has been the use of blood thinners, like heparin or warfarin. While blood thinners will keep a clot from getting larger and work well for smaller clots, they may not completely dissolve larger clots. For massive DVTs and PEs, medications called thrombolytics, or “clot busters,” are often administered. However, these “clot busters” are used cautiously as they can cause serious and even fatal bleeding complications.
FlowTriever and ClotTriever enable the physician to intervene quickly while eliminating the risks and complications associated with thrombolytic agents. “We are excited to be able to bring these new and potentially life-saving treatments to our patients. By performing this procedure through a catheter, we help our patients avoid open-chest surgery, drugs that increase bleeding risk and intensive care unit stays” said Mihas Kodenchery M.D., a Methodist Physician Group cardiologist.
