Multiple pulmonary emboli with pulmonary hypertension caused by effort thrombosis and effective balloon venoplasty of the subclavian vein.

A 36-year-old woman with effort thrombosis of the subclavian vein associated with multiple pulmonary emboli was successfully treated with local thrombolysis of the subclavian vein using a pulse-spray catheter and systemic anticoagulation. Balloon venoplasty of the residual stenosis of subclavian vein was carried out and in follow-up venography 6 months later, there was no restenosis, and the patient has been asymptomatic for 12 months. Pulmonary embolism is not a rare complication of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis and should be managed as aggressively as lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.