[Treatment of obstruction and thrombosis due to central venous catheterization]

Abstract

Thrombolytic treatment with urokinase (5000 U/ml) or streptokinase can restore patency in central venous catheters occluded by thrombosis. In pediatric patients preferable urokinase should be used. The therapy in case of catheter-induced central venous thrombosis is a continuous urokinase infusion (125,000 U/1.73(2)/h) for about 3 to 8 days, followed by a long-term heparinization. The treatment in persistent withdrawal occlusion is significantly shorter, a few hours of systemic lysis are sufficient. The treatment of choice in case of chemical obstructions in patients with long-term parenteral nutrition is the injection of 0.1 N HCl in combination with Heparin. By these procedures most of obstructed central venous catheters can be reopened and maintained in place. This preserves the count of possible catheter implantation sites.