PURPOSE: Retrospective analysis of the results of rt-PA thrombolysis in the treatment of acute @entity1031 occlusion of the upper limb. METHODS: Of 55 @entity1 with demonstrated @entity432 , rt-PA thrombolysis was performed on 40 occlusions in 38 @entity1 (23 @entity1 with a mean age of 62 years, range 32-85 years; 15 @entity1 with a mean age of 65 years, range 32-92 years) according to the following design: 6 mg rt-PA/hr for 30 min, 3 mg rt-PA/hr for the next 30 min, 1 mg rt-PA/hr for 7 hr, and 0.4 mg rt-PA/hr until the end of lysis. Onset of symptoms varied from 1 to 14 days. Included were three isolated @entity432 , nine combined brachial and forearm occlusions, and 28 forearm and hand @entity432 . RESULTS: The overall success rate was 55%. The lysis results for isolated upper arm, combined brachial and forearm occlusions, and forearm and hand @entity432 were 100%, 66%, and 46%, respectively. In eight @entity1 surgical embolectomy had to be performed after failed thrombolysis. No amputation was required in the follow-up period. No lethal complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional rt-PA treatment of proximal @entity432 may be performed with comparable success rates to surgical @entity532 . For distal occlusions the results are inferior to the success rates obtained with surgery.

rt-PA thrombolysis in acute @entity1031 XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients', 'men'] @entity532 :: ('MESH:D003925', 'Disease') :: ['embolectomy and without severe complications'] @entity1031 :: ('MESH:D013923', 'Disease') :: ['thromboembolic'] @entity432 :: ('MESH:D001157', 'Disease') :: ['acute embolic arterial occlusion', 'artery occlusions', 'upper-arm occlusions', 'upper-extremity arterial occlusions']
@entity432 :: (MESH:D001157,Disease) :: ['upper-extremity arterial occlusion']
