Pulmonary Transplant Salvage Using Ultrasound-Assisted Thrombolysis of Subacute Occlusive Main Pulmonary Artery Embolus

Innovations (Phila). 2017 May/Jun;12(3):214-216. doi: 10.1097/IMI.0000000000000371.

Abstract

A 53-year-old woman who underwent bilateral lung transplantation 14 months before presented with 2 to 3 weeks of severe exertional dyspnea. Workup revealed a complete embolic occlusion of her left main pulmonary artery related to a femoral deep venous thrombosis. The occlusion did not respond to systemic anticoagulation, and a trial of catheter-directed thrombolysis was pursued. Flow to the left lower lobe was restored after 2 days of thromobolytic therapy. The patient is alive and well at more than 1 year of follow-up.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Embolism / therapy*
  • Female
  • Femoral Vein / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Lung Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiopathology*
  • Salvage Therapy / methods*
  • Ultrasonic Therapy / methods*
  • Venous Thrombosis / therapy