title: Endobronchial thrombolysis with streptokinase for airway obstruction due to blood clots.
abstract: To our knowledge, only four reports have previously described endobronchial thrombolysis with streptokinase for airway obstruction due to blood clots; the highest dose used was 80,000 U. Herein we describe a 21-year-old woman with pulmonary embolism who experienced life-threatening airway obstruction due to a large blood clot in the distal trachea. Streptokinase (120,000 U), injected through a fiberoptic bronchoscope, partially dissolved the clot. The rest of the clot was removed easily with forceps and suctioning. No complications occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85008, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vajo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Parish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013396:Suction; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D013300:Streptokinase