Urokinase therapy in mesenteric venous thrombosis: a case study.

Mesenteric venous thrombosis is an emergency usually treated by bowel resection with an end-to-end anastomosis and in some cases anticoagulant therapy. The survival rate is low. The literature records many cases of mesenteric venous thrombosis and various treatment modalities. An 18-year-old man was successfully treated for mesenteric venous thrombosis by the placement of a femoral infusion catheter in the superior mesenteric artery for continuous infusion of urokinase (Abbot Laboratories, N. Chicago, Ill.). This case study and overview of the disease process reviews the nursing implications of this problem.