title: Thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in fulminant pulmonary embolism. A case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our outcomes using thrombolysis during the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of patients in cardiorespiratory arrest (CA) caused by fulminant pulmonary embolism (FPE).
  
  
  METHODS
  A case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intensive care units of a district hospital and a referral centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients that suffered CA secondary to an FPE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator during usual CPR manoeuvres when there was a strong suspicion of FPE. Permission for the thrombolytic therapy was sought from family members in all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four out of the six patients survived and remain symptom-free. The thrombolysis was not associated with any fatal complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early thrombolysis during CPR manoeuvres for CA apparently caused by an FPE may reduce the mortality rate among these patients.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Critical Care and Emergencies Department, Hospital de Poniente, El Ejido, Almeria, Spain. mrb1604@teleline.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Bailén
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aguayo-de-Hoyos
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Serrano-Córcoles
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Díaz-Castellanos
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fierro-Rosón
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ramos-Cuadra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Elvira
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Torres-Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator