PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Marvin Kajy AU - Nimrod Blank AU - M. Chadi Alraies AU - Jyothsna Akam-Venkata AU - Sanjeev Aggarwal AU - Amir Kaki AU - Tamam Mohamad AU - Mahir Elder AU - Theodore Schreiber TI - Treatment of a Child With Submassive Pulmonary Embolism Associated With Hereditary Spherocytosis Using Ultrasound-Assisted Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis AID - 10.31486/toj.18.0147 DP - 2019 Sep 21 TA - Ochsner Journal PG - 264--270 VI - 19 IP - 3 4099 - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/19/3/264.short 4100 - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/19/3/264.full SO - Ochsner J2019 Sep 21; 19 AB - Background: The clinical presentation of hereditary spherocytosis varies from no symptoms to severe hemolytic anemia requiring splenectomy. Splenectomy imposes the risk of hypercoagulability and acute pulmonary embolism. Catheter-directed thrombolysis is an established treatment for submassive pulmonary embolism in adults. However, the literature regarding its use in children is limited.Case Report: We present the case of a 12-year-old male with hereditary spherocytosis who was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and successfully treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis. The patient was initially treated with 10.5 mg of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) delivered over 8 hours. However, because of minimal clinical and hemodynamic improvement, a second course of thrombolytic was administered for an additional 24 hours (25 mg of r-tPA), and the treatment resulted in marked clinical and hemodynamic improvement. Clot resolution was confirmed via angiography. The patient was discharged on enoxaparin and with regular follow-up. One year later, the patient was asymptomatic on enoxaparin.Conclusion: This case demonstrates that catheter-based treatment of submassive pulmonary embolism restores hemodynamic stability and thus is an alternative to surgery or systemic thrombolysis, even in the pediatric setting. While catheter-directed thrombolysis is a safe and effective alternative to systemic thrombolysis, further research is needed to establish appropriate dosing and indications in the adolescent population.