Treatment of a case of thromboembolism resulting from thoracic outlet syndrome with intra-arterial urokinase infusion.

A 36-year-old man with thoracic outlet syndrome, admitted to the hospital with digital ischemia from subclavian artery thrombosis and distal embolization, was given intra-arterial urokinase. Thrombus in the subclavian artery was lysed successfully and peripheral emboli were partially cleared, resulting in relief of digital symptoms. Although surgical decompression and vascular reconstruction at the thoracic outlet may be necessary, this technique provides a means of recanalizing small distal vessels.