Arterial and venous embolization: declotting of dialysis shunts by direct injection of streptokinase.

During the past 33 months, thrombolysis of 79 clotted hemodialysis shunts was attempted by injecting small quantities of dilute streptokinase solution directly into the clotted shunt, followed by massage of the clot. Embolization of clot fragments in six of 79 cases (7.6%) was demonstrated angiographically. In four of the six cases embolization involved the brachial artery or its branches. In one case embolization involved an arm vein, and in one case embolization involved both the brachial artery and axillary vein. All patients remained asymptomatic, and repeat angiographic study, usually performed the following day, showed resolution of the emboli in four of five cases. The incidence of embolization in direct-injection thrombolysis reported in this study appears to be comparable to that reported in studies using the streptokinase infusion technique.