Thrombolysis Causes & Treatments

By: Jo Johnson - Updated: 25 Sep 2015 | *Discuss

 

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For those who have suffered from a heart attack, stroke or other problem with the circulation involving blood clots, one type of treatment that might have been suggested is thrombolysis. This treatment aims to help break up blood clots and allow the blood to circulate more effectively through the blood vessels.

What Exactly Is Thrombolysis?

Often blood clots can form within the walls of the blood vessels and these clots can prevent oxygenated blood from reaching the tissues and can seriously compromise the health of the tissues. If tissues are obstructed from receiving blood and oxygen, tissue death can occur.

The coronary arteries are particularly at risk from developing clots and cause heart attacks. The chances of developing a blood clot within the coronary arteries are greatly increased if the arteries have become narrowed from fatty substances known as plaques.

Thrombolysis is often one of the immediate treatments given to those who have suffered from such an occurrence. The earlier the person can receive this treatment, the more chance of preventing long term and irreversible damage to the tissues is.

What Is Involved With The Procedure?

Similar to an angiogram, the procedure involves the use of x-rays and the patient is required to lay on an x-ray table and sedation and local anaesthetic can be given. Following administration of the local anaesthetic, the radiologist will introduce a guide wire, followed by a catheter into the circulatory system, usually via a peripheral artery such as found in the groin area, and using a dye that can be seen on the x-ray, will progress the wires to the site of the clot. Once the location of the clot has been confirmed a drug designed to dissolve the clot will be injected and the clot can often be seen breaking up on the x-ray.

For others, the treatment is likely to be given during an emergency situation and can help to preserve life. In these instances, the drug of choice should be given at the earliest opportunity, with many paramedics now being trained in the selection and administration of the medicines.

There are currently four available thrombolytic drugs available in the United Kingdom, and the choice of drug is dependant on the administering professional’s choice.One such drug is called streptokinase, and if this is used, the body will build up a resistance to it due to the production of anti-bodies, in this instance streptokinase can only be once in the lifetime of each patient.

Thrombolysis is now a routine part of treating heart attacks. It aims to break up the blood clot that has obstructed the coronary artery that leads to heart attack. Many hospitals have rigid procedures and policies regarding the use of these drugs, and for many who receive the treatment at an early opportunity, long-term damage from tissue death can be minimised.

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