[Fibrinolytic therapy of thromboembolic vascular occlusions: primary success rates and long-term results]

A prospective study of the results of fibrinolytic therapy in 87 patients was carried out with particular reference to the type of fibrinolytic agent. The primary success rate using urokinase was 78%, which was markedly greater than the 44% success rate when using streptokinase. An attempt was also made to evaluate the effect of other factors, such as the extent and duration of the occlusion. Long term results, as might have been expected, were directly related to the primary success rate. If fibrinolytic therapy resulted in fairly normal vasculature, the long-term results were satisfactory in 79%, whereas unsatisfactory reconstruction of the vascular bed produced a satisfactory long-term result in only 30%.