SPINAL EPIDURAL HEMATOMA FOLLOWING CORONARY THROMBOLYSIS WITH TISSUE-PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR - REPORT OF 2 CASES

Two cases of spinal epidural hematoma following intravenous administra tion of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator are presented. B oth patients received thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarc tion; back pain and progressive neurological dysfunction ensued, secon dary to spinal cord compression caused by epidural hematoma. Both indi viduals underwent emergency surgery for decompression and hematoma eva cuation, resulting in improvement in neurological function. The curren t status of thrombolytic therapy is reviewed, with emphasis on complic ations of therapy that require neurosurgical intervention.