Objective: To explore the effects of thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in patients with cardiac arrest from suspected pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).
Methods: A total of 12 hospitalized patients with cardiac arrest from suspected pulmonary embolism at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from January 2010 to June 2014 were retrospectively studied. Thrombolysis was given only as a single dose of 50 mg of rt-PA during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. And their clinical features, effocacies and outcomes of thrombolysis were analyzed.
Results: There were 6 males and 6 females with a mean age of (54.8±18.6) (16-81) years. Seven patients were hospitalized in surgery ward while another 6 perioperatively. The mean time of resuscitation before thrombolysis was (47.8±26.0) (17-90) min. Nine patients regained spontaneous circulation. The mean time of restored spontaneous circulation was (15.8±5.4) (5-20). The 24-hour survival rate was 8/12. Four patients had bleeding complications, but only 2 life-threatening major cases. Four patients obtained a long-term survival.
Conclusion: For suspected PTE patients with sudden cardiac arrest, thrombolysis therapy with 50 mg of rt-PA may restore spontaneous circulation and boost 24-hour survival rate.