High-dose bolus injection of urokinase. Use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation for massive pulmonary embolism.

Bolus administration of high-dose thrombolytic agents has been reported for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. We describe the case of a 60-year-old woman who suffered a massive pulmonary embolism with cardiopulmonary arrest 21 h after an exploratory laparotomy. After 20 min of unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a bolus of 2,000,000 U of urokinase was injected via a peripheral vein. Ten minutes later, the circulatory system stabilized, and the patient survived without subsequent bleeding. In our opinion, bolus lysis made a definitive contribution to the success of the resuscitation. Several other case reports and small series showed successful treatment of pulmonary embolism during similar circumstances using high-dose bolus injection of thrombolytic agents. Mechanical thrombus fragmentation using a pulmonary artery catheter or pulmonary embolectomy has not been shown to be more successful during resuscitation. We conclude that bolus administration of thrombolytic agents during CPR for massive pulmonary thromboembolism may be an acceptable and successful technique, which also is available even in the community hospital setting.

[Successful treatment of a fulminant pulmonary embolism using a high-dose bolus injection of urokinase during cardiopulmonary resuscitation]. / Erfolgreiche Behandlung einer fulminanten Lungenembolie durch hochdosierte Bolusinjektion von Urokinase während der kardiopulmonalen Reanimation.

Experience has shown that the bolus injection of streptokinase during resuscitation in case of fulminant pulmonary embolism considerably improves the prognosis. In the case presented here a 64-year old female patient with a fulminant pulmonary embolism was injected with 2 x 1,000,000 I.U. urokinase after 20 minutes of unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Ten minutes after the second injection the circulation could be stabilised by drugs only. The patient survived without any lasting damage. The mechanism of fibrinolysis during resuscitation is discussed. It is also possible to check the diagnosis during resuscitation using echocardiography or angiography. However, treatment must usually start immediately only on clinical diagnosis. Resuscitation in the case of a pulmonary embolism can even be successful after much longer than one hour. Contra-indications must be ignored in such cases. Side effects, which are usually haemorrhages, can as a rule be treated. In our opinion urokinase should be given by preference in the bolus injection during resuscitation. The exception to this is the primary operation during resuscitation. Pulmonary embolectomy is also possible after unsuccessful fibrinolysis.