What is the term for the mechanical removal of a clot?

• A. Thrombolysis
• B. Thrombectomy
• C. Angioplasty
• D. Endarterectomy

Answer: (B)

The term for the mechanical removal of a clot is thrombectomy. Thrombectomy is a procedure specifically designed to surgically remove a blood clot from a blood vessel. This process is often used in cases where a clot is causing a blockage, leading to conditions such as strokes or deep vein thrombosis.

Thrombectomy can involve the use of specialized devices, such as catheters or surgical instruments, to capture and extract the clot, restoring normal blood flow. This differentiates it from thrombolysis, which involves the use of medication to dissolve clots rather than physically removing them.

Angioplasty involves the widening of narrowed or obstructed blood vessels, often using a balloon, while endarterectomy is a procedure aimed at removing atherosclerotic plaque from the arterial wall. Both of these procedures may involve addressing issues associated with clots, but they do not specifically refer to the process of clot removal.