What is an EKOS catheter?
The EKOS is an ultrasound machine that is used to break up blood clot(s) in a desired area of your body. It uses ultrasound waves and special clot dissolving medication that helps remove the clot(s).
What is the difference between Ekos and other infusion catheters?
Both the EKOS and infusion thrombolysis are the same. The EKOS catheter is an infusion catheter for TPA. The wire that is inserted in the catheter helps disrupt the thrombus in the vessel so the lysis process is sped up (hopefully). So there is no difference between EKOS and infusion thrombolysis for coding.
What is Ekos thrombectomy?
EKOS is a safe, repeatable and reliable treatment that dissolves thrombus quickly with low lytic, low blood loss and low trauma – resulting in proven long-term outcomes. EKOS leverages the power of targeted ultrasonic waves to thin and separate fibrin strands and accelerates lytic dispersion deeper into the clot.
How long does EKOS procedure take?
The procedure takes 10 minutes after which the patient goes to ICU – 12 hours for a single pulmonary embolism and 24 hours for a patient with blood clots in both lungs. The procedure cuts the length of stay in half – two to three days on average.
How long can Ekos therapy be used?
A retrospective study by Kennedy et al,8 as well as the ULTIMA trial,9 has shown that pharmacomechanical thrombolysis for acute PE using the EkoSonic ultrasound-enhanced infusion system (EKOS-BTG, Bothell, WA) is both safe and effective at reversing RV dysfunction at 24 hours and 90 days, without the reported risks of …
How is Ekos done?
The device, called EKOS is a cutting-edge technology that uses an ultrasound to deliver very low doses of a clot-dissolving drug directly into the clot through a catheter. The result is rapid clearance of the clot while at the same time significantly reducing the risk of bleeding.
How the Ekos thrombolytic technology works to dissolve clots?
How EKOS works. EKOS uses ultrasonic soundwaves and medications to dissolve blood clots. To perform this procedure, our highly skilled experts guide a catheter to the site of the blood clot. Clot-busting medicine is then released through the catheter.
Does Ekos improve mortality?
No significant difference was noted in the rate of individual outcomes of death and recurrent PE when assessed independently. The treatment group was found to have reduced hemodynamic decompensation and all-cause mortality at seven days in patients with submassive PE.