What is lysis?
Lysis or lysis therapy (thrombolysis) involves dissolving blood clots in a vessel with medication.
This can happen either at the site where the blood clot formed (thrombosis), or the clot is carried along by the bloodstream and constricts or blocks the bloodstream elsewhere in the vascular system (embolism). For example, a thrombus that has formed in the lower leg can break loose and cause a pulmonary embolism – that is, block a vessel in the lung.
When do you perform lysis?
Lysis therapy is performed on:
- acute peripheral vascular occlusion (e.g. in the leg)
- acute myocardial infarction (acute myocardial infarction)
- ischemic stroke
- chronic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (called “smoker’s leg” or “window shopper’s disease”)
- pulmonary embolism
With every minute that passes before lysis is initiated, more undersupplied tissue dies. Therefore, specific time windows are set for the initiation of acute therapy. If lysis therapy starts too late, the clot can hardly be dissolved by medication.
What is done during lysis?
The physician administers drugs via a venous access that either break down the blood clot directly or activate the body’s own breakdown enzymes (plasminogen). In more than half of cases, the clogged vessel is reopened in this way within 90 minutes.
- Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) prevents the accumulation of blood platelets (thrombocytes) and thus an enlargement of the blood clot. The tissue damage is thus limited.
- Heparin intervenes in the blood clotting system and prevents the thrombus from enlarging.
In this form of angioplasty, a so-called balloon catheter is used to dilate the clogged coronary vessel. A prerequisite, however, is that a cardiology center is available nearby where this procedure can be performed. If such a center is more than 90 minutes away, early lysis therapy should be initiated on site.
What are the risks of lysis?
What do I need to be aware of after lysis?
After successful thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias often occur. Therefore, patients are strictly monitored following lysis.
