Percutaneous aspiration embolectomy.

Percutaneous aspiration thromboembolectomy (PAT) for management of a spontaneous arterial embolus, or following a complication of balloon angioplasty, was initially described in 1984. Instrument developments using a new clot aspiration system have facilitated this procedure. We report a case where PAT was successful in retrieving a spontaneous arterial embolus, and describe this new technique. We feel that PAT broadens the armamentarium of the vascular surgeon in the management of emboli to the distal circulation, where the results for operative embolectomy are frequently less than ideal.