Streptokinase dissolution of a right atrial thrombus associated with a temporary pacemaker

K J May1, J T Cardone, P P Stroebel

  • 1Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Hartford, Conn.

Thrombosis of intravascular catheters is a well-recognized and potentially serious complication, which has been treated successfully with thrombolytic agents. A routine echocardiogram in a patient with a temporary transvenous pacemaker demonstrated a large thrombus attached to the pacing electrode. This was dissolved successfully and uneventfully with high-dose intravenous streptokinase therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the successful lysis of a right atrial thrombus complicating a temporary transvenous pacemaker.

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