Long-term angiographic follow-up of occluded saphenous bypass grafts treated with prolonged urokinase infusion.
We report on 10 occluded saphenous vein bypass grafts in nine patients treated with prolonged urokinase infusion. Our purpose was to evaluate the patency of these grafts during long-term follow-up. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients treated at a single center. All patients had angiography 0.25 to 54 months after treatment. Results indicated that clot lysis was achieved in all grafts with urokinase infusions of 1,790,000 to 25,920,000 units given over 17 to 108 hours. In two grafts there was no filling of the distal native vessel and in one, a 50% stenosis with ulceration remained. There was a progressive loss of graft patency over the first 18 months, but 50% of the grafts that were opened with prolonged urokinase infusion remain patent. Long-term patency depends upon successful opening without residual obstruction and with good flow into the distal native vessel.
Mehta
K
K
Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA.
Schechter
E
E
D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator