ClotTriever® for the Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Northwest Texas Healthcare System Heart Hospital is now offering a non-surgical procedure for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The ClotTriever® System from Inari Medical is an FDA-cleared mechanical thrombectomy device built for the treatment of DVT. If you have a history of blood clots or DVT, you may be a candidate for ClotTriever.

Treating DVT In a Single-Session is Possible

ClotTriever is specifically designed to capture and remove large and potentially life-threatening clots from large veins — without surgery, an ICU stay or clot busting drugs, which can increase one’s risk for bleeding. It is designed to separate and remove thrombus (clots) from the vessel wall, and it can help eliminate venous blood clots in one treatment.

Northwest Texas Healthcare System Heart Hospital, Amarillo’s leading heart care facility, is proud to be the area’s first to offer this procedure.

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, mostly in the legs. Blood clots can be caused by anything that prevents your blood from circulating or clotting normally, such as injury to a vein, surgery, certain medications and limited movement. Symptoms of DVT include lower extremity swelling, redness, warmth and pain.

The most serious complication of DVT occurs when a part of the clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a blockage called pulmonary embolism (PE). The blockage can be large enough to prevent blood from reaching the lungs which can lead to death.

Anticoagulation or blood thinner is the most common treatment for deep vein thrombosis. However, anticoagulation only prevents new clots from forming and will not actively break down existing clots. Intervention with thrombolytics (tPA) or “clot busting” drugs help to dissolve clots but may become ineffective as the clot ages. Mechanical thrombectomy using the ClotTriever System has changed the way deep vein thrombosis is treated by offering patients a non-thrombolytic, single-session procedure that can remove large clots resulting in immediate symptom improvement.