Abstract
PURPOSE: To gain a preliminary understanding of the role of thrombolytic therapy for the thrombosed dural sinus, we retrospectively reviewed our initial experience. METHODS: Seven patients, ages 25 to 71, who presented with symptomatic dural sinus thrombosis and who failed a trial of medical therapy were treated with direct infusion of urokinase into the thrombosed sinus. Patients received urokinase doses ranging from 20 000 to 150 000 U/h with a mean infusion time of 163 hours (range 88 to 244 hours). RESULTS: Patency of the affected dural sinus was achieved with antegrade flow in all patients. Six patients either improved neurologically over their prethrombolysis state or were healthy after thrombolysis; one of them required angioplasty. The other patient improved after surgical repair of a residual dural arteriovenous fistula. The only complications were an infected femoral access site which resolved after treatment with antibiotics and hematuria which cleared after discontinuation of anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombolysis of the thrombosed dural sinus shows promise as a safe and efficacious treatment. The results of this study should provide the impetus for further research.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 801-807 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American Journal of Neuroradiology |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 5 |
State | Published - 1994 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Clinical Neurology