Successful treatment of aortic arch mural thrombosis with low-dose, ultra-slow-flow thrombolysis: a case report and literature review

Submitted: 15 June 2022
Accepted: 15 September 2022
Published: 24 October 2022
Abstract Views: 326
PDF: 120
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Authors

  • Rosina Albisinni rosa.albisinni@ospedalideicolli.it Unit of Infectious and Transplant Medicine, AORN Ospedali dei Colli-Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Tommaso Marrazzo Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.
  • Arta Karruli Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.
  • Sabrina Manduca Unit of Ecocardiography and Endovascular Therapy, AORN Ospedali dei Colli-Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Giuseppe Nobile Unit of Vascular Surgery, AORN Ospedali dei Colli-Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Nicola Galdieri Unit of Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care, AORN Ospedali dei Colli-Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Marisa De Feo Department of Cardio-Thoracic Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy.

Aortic arch thrombosis represents a severe condition which usually requires surgical treatment in specialized centers. Treatments described in literature are mostly surgery or sodium heparin infusion. Here we describe an off-label use of alteplase in aortic arch thrombosis in a patient in whom sodium heparin treatment failed and surgery was not possible due to the site of thrombus. We report the case of a 34-year-old postpartum patient who was admitted to our hospital for aortic arch thrombosis. She had no genetic disorders for hypercoagulability, only a family history for ischemic cerebrovascular accident. As treatment with sodium heparin failed and surgery was not possible due to the site of thrombus, she received a low-dose, ultra-slow-flow treatment with alteplase for 75 hours with successful removal of the thrombus. No side effects from alteplase were observed. Considering the safety and efficacy in this patient, as well as the easiness by which it can be reproduced in the majority of clinical settings, this treatment may be a viable option in cases of aortic arch thrombosis when conventional treatments are not applicable or available.

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How to Cite

Albisinni, R., Marrazzo, T., Karruli, A., Manduca, S., Nobile, G., Galdieri, N., & De Feo, M. (2022). Successful treatment of aortic arch mural thrombosis with low-dose, ultra-slow-flow thrombolysis: a case report and literature review. Bleeding, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/btvb.2022.44