Effective streptokinase treatment of blocked catheters in pigs and sheep.

Sheep and pigs with chronic silastic catheters with a partial blockage of the catheter were treated locally with streptokinase. After one week of treatment all affected catheters were patent again for many weeks. In sheep it proved necessary to use the enzyme treatment as a maintenance tool by contrast with pigs. This treatment may reduce the number of animals used in long-term trials requiring vascular access.