Transcatheter thrombolysis in cancer patients.

Arterial thrombolysis was successfully accomplished in 15 of 18 (83%) cancer patients by the continuous intraarterial transcatheter administration of streptokinase (70 units/kg/h or 5000 u/h and/or urokinase (400-500 u/kg/h) over 24-96 h. In 16 of these patients, the arterial thrombosis was a complication of transcatheter infusion of chemotherapeutic agents or embolization therapy. A combination of streptokinase, urokinase and heparin (10,000-25,000 U/day) was utilized without significant side effect and was effective in all 8 patients receiving treatment. Creating a tunnel through the clot, daily monitoring of the catheter with repositioning when necessary, and adjusting the type and dose of thrombolytic agent aided the therapeutic management.