Endobronchial urokinase for dissolution of massive clot following transbronchial biopsy.

Abstract

Endobronchial streptokinase has been used previously to dissolve blood clots caused by massive spontaneous hemoptysis, in settings including sarcoidosis, cavitary histoplasmosis, and multiple myeloma. To our knowledge, however, the use of thrombolytic agents to dissolve clots following transbronchial biopsy has not been reported previously. We describe a patient in whom endobronchial urokinase was used for successful dissolution of clots secondary to massive bleeding after transbronchial biopsy.