REGIONAL THROMBOLYSIS FOR PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL OCCLUSIONS - INITIAL PROCEDURE OF CHOICE - CASE-REPORTS

Five cases, representative of our larger series, are described in whic h grafts and lower extremities of patients with peripheral arterial oc clusions were salvaged by thrombolytic therapy with catheter-directed intra-arterial urokinase. These patients were poor surgical candidates due to serious medical problems in addition to their occlusions. Intr a-arterial fibrinolysis restored arterial flow and revealed lesions su itable for percutaneous angioplasty, making surgical intervention unne cessary. As vascular surgeons and interventionalists, the authors beli eve that thrombolysis is underutilized in patients with lysable occlus ions.