ADMIXTURE OF HEPARIN WITH UROKINASE TO DECREASE THROMBOLYSIS TIME ANDUROKINASE DOSE IN POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE DIALYSIS GRAFT RECANALIZATION

PURPOSE: To determine whether the addition of heparin to urokinase dur ing dialysis graft thrombolysis can lower urokinase dose and shorten p rocedure time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent dialysis g raft thrombolysis during an 18-month period were studied retrospective ly, Twenty patients were treated with urokinase alone, and 19 patients were treated with urokinase and heparin, Thrombolysis was performed i n the angiography suite by using a crossed-catheter technique, Urokina se was administered directly into the thrombus, In patients receiving heparin, 5,000 IU was added directly to the initial urokinase solution . RESULTS: In patients who received urokinase alone, an average of 750 ,000 U of urokinase was used, and the average procedure time was 2 hou rs 42 minutes, When heparin was added, an average of 435,000 U of urok inase was used, and the average procedure time was 2 hours. CONCLUSION : The addition of heparin to urokinase can decrease both urokinase dos e and thrombolysis time in the recanalization of dialysis grafts.