Fibrinolytic (Thrombolytic) Therapy: Uses, Drugs & Side Effects (original) (raw)

What happens before thrombolytic therapy?

Thrombolytic therapy is usually an emergency treatment. If your healthcare provider recommends this treatment, you’ll be transferred to an intensive care unit. There, your medical team will closely monitor your vital signs while they give you thrombolytic agents.

What happens during thrombolytic therapy?

Thrombolytic medications are delivered to the blood clot through an IV line or a catheter placed in your vein. During treatment, your providers use imaging tests — like CT scans or MRI — to see if the blood clot is dissolving successfully.

In some instances, your healthcare provider may perform another type of therapy called mechanical thrombectomy. During this procedure, the blood clot is physically broken up using a long catheter with a tiny rotating device and suction cup.

What happens after thrombolytic therapy?

Following thrombolytic therapy, your healthcare provider will monitor your progress and determine if any residual pieces of the blood clot remain. In some cases, more treatment may be necessary, including stenting, balloon angioplasty or open surgery. Your provider will also likely place you on anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin or heparin to reduce the risk of future blood clots.

Even with successful treatment, a clot can return in the same blood vessel. (This happens in about 12% of cases.) If this occurs, more aggressive treatment may be necessary.

How long does thrombolytic therapy take?

The duration of therapy varies from one hour to many hours depending on the type of blood clot being treated.