INTRAARTERIAL THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY - A COMBINED APPROACH WITH ANGIOPLASTY AND OR MINOR SURGERY

Low-dose intra-arterial treatment was performed in 124 patients who un derwent a total of 142 procedures. The series included 87 occluded art eries and 55 occluded grafts. In only 29 instances (21%) was thromboly sis alone sufficient. In another 77 procedures (54%) the thrombolysis was followed by either angioplasty or minor surgery. In the remaining 36 treatments (25%) lysis of the occlusion failed. A successful end re sult of combined treatment was achieved in 67 of 77 (87%) procedures. Including the 29 patients in whom thrombolysis alone sufficed, a total of 96 of the 142 procedures (67%) were successful, with the overall s uccess rate being better in grafts (78%) than in arteries (61%). The s uprainguinal lesions had a significantly better response compared to t he infra-inguinal ones. The evaluation of all procedures was done at t he time of discharge from hospital. Complications were related either to local or systemic hemorrhage or distal embolization. Death related to treatment occurred in three patients.