[Use of intrapleural urokinase in children].
OBJECTIVE
To present the use of intrapleural urokinase as an alternative to surgical management of complicated pleural effusions in children. To add new cases to the literature and set bases for the development of a standardized protocol.


METHODS
Presentation of three cases in children under three years of age treated with intrapleural urokinase.


RESULTS
Resolution of the effusions with lack of adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of pleural effusions when loculations develop. This invasive approach might be avoided in some cases by instillation of a fibrinolytic agent such as urokinase into the pleural space, this being an efficient and safe procedure.
Tapia Ceballos
L
L
Area de Pediatría, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella.
Picazo Angelín
B
B
Bonillo Perales
A
A
Romero Sánchez
J
J
Díaz Cabrera
R
R
Romero González
J
J
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D008297:Male; D010994:Pleura; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator