Thrombolytic therapy in acute arterial thrombosis.

The courses of 17 patients who underwent 20 separate attempts at thrombolysis for acute arterial thrombosis are reviewed to clarify the safety and efficacy of this therapy. Seventeen of 20 thrombolyses were angiographically successful. Patients who had correctable lesions identified and reconstructive procedures performed tended to do better than those who did not, and patients who had successful thrombolysis tended to have fewer and less radical amputations. Complications can be reduced by careful, close monitoring of patients undergoing therapy.