Restoring patency of occluded central venous catheters.

Thrombotic occlusion remains a major cause of central venous catheter removal prior to completion of therapy. Injection of a dilute solution of a potent fibrinolytic agent, urokinase or streptokinase, into the occluded Silastic central venous catheter consistently reestablishes its patency. This procedure was performed on 352 occluded silicone elastomer central venous catheters with only one failure and one minor complication. We recommend this technique for restoring patency of occluded silicone elastomer central venous catheters.