Ultrasound Assistant Thrombolysis Shows Positive Results In Cases Of For Extensive DVT Or Acute Limb Ischemia

Main Category: Vascular
Also Included In: MRI / PET / Ultrasound;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 24 Nov 2008 - 2:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Karthikeshwar Kasirajan, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, presented the results of research conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound as an adjunct to facilitate pharmacological thrombolysis.

Methods: From December 2006 to August 2008, 37 patients (16 with deep vein thrombosis, and 21 with acute in situ arterial thrombosis) were treated with catheter direct pharmacological thrombolysis using 0.5mg/hour of the recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (Alteplase, Genentech, San Francisco, California) via the EKOS (EKOS Corporation, Bothell, Washington) infusion system.

Complete thrombus resolution was noted in all arterial patients. 4 patients with DVT had partial thrombus (40%) resolution; two patients had no change and all others had complete thrombus resolution.

Dr. Kasirajan concluded that the use of ultrasound may help decrease the total dose of lytic agents used. Larger prospective randomized studies are required to prove earlier recanalization compared to standard pharmacological thrombolysis.

VEITH SYMPOSIUM - New York, November 19th to 23rd

Now in its fourth decade, VEITH SYMPOSIUM provides vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, interventional cardiologists and other vascular specialists with a unique and exciting format to learn the most current information about what is new and important in the treatment of vascular disease. The 5-day event features rapid-fire presentations from world renowned vascular specialists with emphasis on the latest advances, changing concepts in diagnosis and management, pressing controversies and new techniques.

VEITHsymposium is sponsored by Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.

www.veithsymposium.org

Source
Pauline T. Mayer
www.ptmhcm.com