Thrombolytic therapy in catheter-related subclavian venous thrombosis

A 57-year-old woman presented with swelling of her left arm. She had had an indwelling Hickman infusion catheter for five months. Venography demonstrated subclavian vein thrombosis which was successfully treated using a low-dose streptokinase infusion into the involved catheter over a 20-hour period. No complications related to embolic disease were observed during the treatment period or during six months of follow-up.