Early postoperative thrombolytic therapy after laparotomy

Early postoperative pulmonary embolism due to deep venous thrombosis has be en reported to be associated with a mortality rate of approximately 46%. Ad ministration of thrombolytic drugs is relatively contraindicated during thi s period so that conservative or surgical treatment can be considered as a therapeutical intervention. We report the case of a 68-year-old male patien t who was subjected to systemic thrombolytic therapy due to pulmonary embol ism on the first day after laparatomy. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Lt d. All rights reserved.