title: Urokinase infusion: feasibility of monitoring for complications in a non-intensive care setting.
abstract: In an effort to more effectively use critical care facilities and to reduce costs, during a 2 1/2-year period, the condition of 32 patients who received 37 local intraarterial urokinase (UK) infusions was monitored in a non-intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Techniques of infusion, mean total dose of lytic agent used (1.7 million IU), and mean duration of infusion (22 hours) were similar to those reported previously in series of patients monitored in the ICU. Complete lysis (no angiographically detectable residual clot within the treated segment) was achieved in 28 of 37 infusions (76%). Major complications occurred during two infusions (5.4%). In 33 of the 37 cases, systemic heparin was administered during UK infusion. No cases of pericatheter thrombosis were encountered. At the authors' institution, patients can be safely monitored during local UK infusion in a non-ICU setting without compromising effectiveness of therapy. This approach has resulted in enhanced cost-effectiveness of thrombolytic therapy and more effective use of critical care facilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Medicine.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Routh
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tatum
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator