A surgeon holding a catheter with an inflatable balloon attached to its tip, used to perform an embolectomy

A surgeon holding a catheter with an inflatable balloon attached to its tip, used to perform an embolectomy, An embolectomy is performed to check that the femoral artery is clear before the wound is closed. The balloon is deflated before it is fed into the artery. When the catheter has passed any possible sites of occlusion, the balloon is inflated and pulled out of the artery. When it is removed it will clear any embolisms. (Photo by Universal Images Group via Getty Images)