title: Catheter-directed thrombolysis for deep venous thrombosis.
abstract: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents a significant clinical problem, affecting patients of all age groups, nationalities, and socioeconomic strata. Despite its prevalence, the paradigms for care are largely centered around primary or secondary prophylaxis, with less emphasis on actual treatment of the thrombus. With the recent rapid development of advanced endovascular techniques, it is now feasible to dissolve many thrombi using catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), and favorable clinical experience has been reported in over 600 patients. If performed safely, the purported benefits of CDT for DVT include a decreased incidence of persistent phlebitic symptoms, improved quality of life and, possibly, a decreased incidence of recurrent thrombotic events.
authors.affiliation: Section of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Zachary K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Comerota
authors.forename: Lewis B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator