Understanding Vascular Occlusion

Reducing or eliminating blood flow to an area of the body by blocking, or occluding, a blood vessel has become an accepted treatment option for a wide range of circulatory and internal organ diseases. Vascular occlusion can be used for a number of reasons including:

• To reduce pressure on malformed ( fistular), weakened ( aneurismal ) or leaking blood vessels
• To reduce blood supply to benign or malignant tumors or growths in the body 
• To reduce blood supply (and therefore the overall size) of an organ or area of the body prior to other therapies or procedures
• To reroute blood supply to a different blood vessel or part of the body

Vascular occlusions were previously only accomplished by surgically closing, or ligating, the blood vessel. More recently, occlusions have been performed by releasing small wire coils at the point of occlusion, causing a clot to form, blocking the flow of blood. Frequently, several coils are required to occlude the vessel.

AGA Medical’s AMPLATZER® Vascular Plug occludes vessels using a Nitinol “plug” design that expands to block the blood vessel – like a cork in a bottle. Because the Vascular Plug  securely places a Nitinol mesh across the entire vessel, a single Plug can frequently block a blood vessel that would have required multiple coils, and the Plug is designed to more quickly stop blood flow through the vessel.

Treating Vascular Occlusion

AGA Medical designed the AMPLATZER® Vascular Plug to allow closure of peripheral veins and arteries using a minimally-invasive transcatheter procedure instead of surgery or coils.
Learn More About the AMPLATZER® Vascular Plug