Venous thromboembolism has increasing significance in hospitalized pediatric patients. Patients who have life-threatening or limb-threatening thrombotic events require thrombolysis in addition to anticoagulation. In patients who show signs of heparin resistance or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, it is imperative to identify alternative therapeutic options. We present a child in whom bivalirudin was used for systemic anticoagulation during catheter-directed thrombolysis along with tissue plasminogen activator (Alteplase® ) for the treatment of a near-occlusive organ-threatening thrombus. We also review the currently available literature on the use of combination therapy of an intravenous direct thrombin inhibitor with alteplase.
Keywords: anticoagulation therapy; coagulation; intensive care; thrombolytic; thrombosis.
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.