Successful thrombolytic therapy for acute and chronic occlusion of polytef vascular grafts

C. J. Bisig Jr and M. D. Kerstein

Thrombolytic therapy for thrombosed arterial bypass grafts has received little attention in the medical literature. We carried out successful thrombolysis in occluded polytef arterial bypass grafts. A femoral-femoral artery crossover graft had been occluded 13 days, and a femoral-popliteal artery bypass graft had been occluded three months. No surgical intervention was required. Follow-up showed continued patency nine months following thrombolytic therapy. Long-term oral anticoagulation seems indicated. Also, data suggest thrombus in polytef grafts may be particularly susceptible to lyses. Thrombolytic therapy should play an increasing role in vascular surgery.