Acute vertebrobasilar occlusion: treatment with high-dose intraarterial urokinase.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe our successful experience with high-dose intraarterial urokinase therapy in treating acute, life-threatening vertebrobasilar occlusion. CONCLUSION: We successfully treated five patients with acute vertebrobasilar occlusion who presented up to 24 hr after the onset of symptoms. Higher doses of urokinase than are commonly reported in the literature were used in this series at a rapid infusion rate with a "pulse-spray" technique. The result was prompt thrombolysis and good clinical outcome.