Treatment of a Child With Submassive Pulmonary Embolism Associated With Hereditary Spherocytosis Using Ultrasound-Assisted Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis

Abstract

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.

Coronary Embolism Presenting as NSTEMI in a Patient with Splenectomy

“…Few cases of thromboembolism have been reported with a link to hereditary spherocytosis (HS), particularly in patients with a prior history of splenectomy. 5 – 9 We present a case of a patient who was transferred from an outside hospital showing non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and who subsequently was diagnosed with CE.…”