[Fibrinolytic therapy in non-coronary diseases]

Utilization of fibrinolytic drugs in non-coronary diseases has been described since 1949, but despite of that, works about that subject are very rare in the literature. In this paper we discuss the cases of three patients that were treated with such compounds for pulmonary embolism, peripheral arterial embolism, and thrombosis in mechanical aortic prosthesis. All patients had excellent in-hospital outcome, and were totally asymptomatic at the discharge time. It is emphasized the clinical symptoms, sometimes unexpected, and the importance of the complementary tests not only in the disease's diagnosis, but also in some decisions that must be taken during the patient's evolution, where they can help us to decide, for example, about the correct moment to stop the thrombolytic infusion. In conclusion, fibrinolytic drugs can be utilized in the management of many affections that otherwise would be treated by emergency surgery.