Endobronchial thrombolysis with streptokinase for airway obstruction due to blood clots.

To our knowledge, only four reports have previously described endobronchial thrombolysis with streptokinase for airway obstruction due to blood clots; the highest dose used was 80,000 U. Herein we describe a 21-year-old woman with pulmonary embolism who experienced life-threatening airway obstruction due to a large blood clot in the distal trachea. Streptokinase (120,000 U), injected through a fiberoptic bronchoscope, partially dissolved the clot. The rest of the clot was removed easily with forceps and suctioning. No complications occurred.