Safe administration of intrapleural alteplase during pregnancy

Instillation of intrapleural (IP) fibrinolytics has been used in patients with complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions to improve fluid drainage and decrease the need for surgical intervention. However, clinical trials have not included certain special populations such as pregnant females and there are currently no published case reports of this practice in this group. We describe the case of a 35-year-old female, G2P1 at 32 weeks of gestation, with a complicated pleural effusion due to influenza pneumonia with superimposed bacterial pneumonia. Her parapneumonic pleural effusion was successfully treated with intercostal tube drainage and IP alteplase [tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)] administration and systemic antibiotics with no harm to her or her fetus, sparing this patient from more invasive surgical procedures. This is the first reported case of successful IP tPA administration for a complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion in a pregnant patient.