Systemic Intravenous Thrombolysis for Massive Pulmonary Embolism after Intracranial Surgery for Traumatic Head Injury: When Absolute Becomes Relative!

Abstract

Intravenous thrombolysis is the preferred treatment for massive pulmonary embolism with hemodynamic instability, when there are no contraindications to the therapy. However, when absolute contraindications to thrombolysis are present, clinicians are at a crux, especially when mechanical thrombectomy is also not possible. We present a case of a 40-year-old man with polytrauma with head injury who developed massive pulmonary embolism requiring intravenous thrombolysis on day 15 after decompressive craniotomy—possibly a first in the literature. The patient, however, successfully recovered from this near-fatal episode. With this report, we wish to highlight that at a near-dying situation, no contraindication is absolute, and all possible efforts must be made by the clinician to save the patient.