Effectiveness of low-dose prolonged infusion of tissue plasminogen activator in a nonagenarian patient with acute pulmonary embolism and main pulmonary artery thrombus

Abstract

Acute pulmonary embolism is an important emergency disease which frequently results in life-threatening complication. Systemic fibrinolysis is recommended as standard, first-line therapy in patients with massive pulmonary embolism. In the case described in this report, a 95-year-old woman was treated with low-dose prolonged infusion of tissue plasminogen activator for acute pulmonary embolism and mobile thrombus in the main pulmonary artery and right pulmonary artery. On the basis of echocardiographic findings, acute thrombolysis with low-dose prolonged infusion of tissue plasminogen activator was performed resulting in hemodynamic stabilization of the patient and complete resolution of the pulmonary artery thrombus. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 24:95-96 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.