Abstract
Standard therapy for frostbite has been unaltered for more than 20 years. Recently there have been reports of improved outcomes with the addition of a vasodilator to intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy. We report the case of severe frostbite of the hands successfully treated with transcatheter intra-arterial tPA after papaverine infusion in a 37-year-old man. Upper extremity and hand angiography within 16 h of the insult showed thrombotic occlusive disease and vasospasm. Intra-arterial catheters were placed in the brachial arteries and a papaverine infusion was initiated, followed by intra-arterial tPA thrombolysis. Follow-up examination at 4 months revealed full hand function and complete resolution of symptoms.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1280-1283 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Frostbite
- Papavarine
- Thrombolysis
- Vasodilator
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine