Therapy of postoperative stroke: Report of intra-arterial thrombolysis of a hyperacute embolic stroke 5 days following CABG

Intra-arterial (IA) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is an investigational treatment for acute stroke. We report a case of IA thrombolysis of a hyperacute middle cerebral artery stroke 5 days after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Despite a serious extracranial bleeding complication (hemothorax), immediate thrombolysis with IA rt-PA led to near complete resolution of the neurological deficit and a favorable outcome. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;54:339–341. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.