Peripheral Arterial Embolism And Thrombosis Treatment in India

Ananya Iyer, a 58-year-old senior accountant,...

Ananya Iyer, a 58-year-old senior accountant, had always been active, walking daily in her neighborhood. A lifelong non-smoker, she managed her type 2 diabetes carefully. Over several weeks, she noticed a persistent, deep ache in her right calf that worsened with walking, forcing her to stop every few hundred feet (claudication). One evening, her foot became suddenly cold, pale, and numb. Rushed to the ER, a CT angiogram revealed a thrombus completely blocking her right popliteal artery, an acute arterial thrombosis. Her cardiologist, Dr. Sharma, explained that without immediate intervention, she risked losing her leg. He recommended a percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy to physically remove the clot and restore blood flow. Ananya was terrified, fearing amputation and the loss of her independence. The procedure, done under local anesthesia, involved threading a catheter to the site to break up and suction out the thrombus. Post-procedure, warmth and color returned to her foot immediately. After a 2-day hospital stay for monitoring and starting new anticoagulant medication, she began supervised rehabilitation. Three months later, she is back to walking, though shorter distances, and attends cardiac rehab for lifestyle management. Her emotional journey shifted from sheer terror and vulnerability to profound relief and a cautious, determined gratitude for her preserved mobility.