Thrombosis of a prosthetic valve managed by thrombolysis: a case report

Thrombosis of a prosthetic valve is one of the most serious cardiovascular events. Emergency replacement of the prosthetic valve has been the standard method of management but carries a high operative risk. This paper describes the successful use of streptokinase, given intravenously, to manage a patient with this complication in the acute phase. Eventually, operation was necessary because the presence of residual organized clot was suspected, but the procedure was performed electively 10 days later.