 Catheter embolectomy is also used for aspiration embolectomy, where the thrombus is removed by suction rather than pushing with a balloon.It is a rapid and effective way of removing thrombi in thromboembolic occlusions of the limb arteries below the inguinal ligament, as in leg infarction.Surgical embolectomy is the simple surgical removal of a clot following incision into a vessel by open surgery on the artery.