title: Massive pulmonary embolism in pregnancy treated with streptokinase and percutaneous catheter fragmentation.
abstract: Despite heightened awareness, pulmonary embolism remains a major cause of maternal mortality in the antenatal period and one which has not decreased in incidence over the four triennia since 1976. We report a patient who suffered massive pulmonary embolism with circulatory collapse in the second trimester and who was treated with intravenous streptokinase followed by percutaneous mechanical dispersion of thrombus using a catheter and guide wire. She made an excellent recovery despite complicating antepartum haemorrhage. In life-threatening circumstances pharmacological thrombolysis is mandatory particularly for hospitals without a cardiac catheterization laboratory on site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mazeika
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Oakley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000628:therapy*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000628:therapy*; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D013300:Streptokinase