[Thrombolytic therapy in arteriosclerotic disease (authors transl)]

The treatment of acute arterial occulsion, especially emboli and also thromboses associated with a complete ischaemia is the domain of the surgeon. Subacute or chronic arterial occlusion -- uni- or myltilocular --are suited for a trial of thrombolytic therapy, with an approximate success rate of 40%. When thrombolysis is contraindicated, then transluminal dilatation according to Dotter can be attempted in cases of short stenosis. A new and successful indication for thrombolysis is in the therapy of cases of late reocclusion after vascular reconstructive operations. The preliminary results in this field are very good, especially in the aortoiliac region. The indications, the practical details, the results and complications of thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase are discussed.