Catheter directed thrombolysis

Abstract

Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common disease associated with serious short term and long term complications. Its conventional treatment has been anticoagulation. Thrombolytic treatment has been used for DVT for over 40 years. More recently catheter directed thrombolysis has taken over systemic thrombolysis. This technique is useful to prevent post thrombotic syndrome (PTS) after DVT.

In this review article we present a case of DVT thrombolysis in our hospital, look at the pathophysiology of PTS, the mechanism of thrombolysis and the current status of thrombolysis in DVT.