Therapy for thrombotic occlusion of long-term intravenous alimentation catheters.
Thrombosis and infection are closely related complications of implanted silastic catheters. A procedure, by which the thrombi are dispersed with urokinase while the catheter remains in situ, was uniformly successful in clearing the line in 20 patients, although in 5 the infusion had to be repeated 24 hr later. Catheter-associated infections are rendered susceptible to antibiotics as the infected thrombotic nidus is lysed and the organisms exposed. In 7 patients, 4 of whom were taking antibiotics, fever and blood cultures became negative. The procedure results in no detectable systemic fibrinolysis or other complications.
D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005839:Gentamicins; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D002437:Cefazolin