Pulmonary embolism after thrombolysis of hemodialysis grafts.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of pulmonary embolization occurring after mechanical or pharmacomechanical percutaneous intravascular thrombolysis in 23 patients with occluded hemodialysis grafts. In all patients, pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy was performed before and immediately after thrombolysis. In eight (35%) of the patients, there was evidence of pulmonary embolism resulting from the interventional procedure; however, in only one was there clinical symptoms. It is concluded that there is substantial risk of pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing percutaneous intravascular thrombolysis for an occluded hemodialysis graft.