Bivalirudin and thrombolytic therapy: a novel successful treatment of severe aortic arch thrombosis in a term neonate

Abstract

An early-term infant with uncomplicated perinatal history was found to have a large thrombus in the aortic arch after he failed regular newborn critical congenital heart defect screen. He responded well to bivalirudin thrombolytic and tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA) combination therapy, with a significant resolution of the thrombus. The infant tolerated hospital admission well with no significant complications. He was discharged home on daily aspirin at 2 weeks of life. To our knowledge, the combination therapy approach with bivalirudin and tPA is the first one reported in the literature in the neonatal age group.

Keywords: cardiovascular system; haematology (drugs and medicines); neonatal intensive care; paediatrics (drugs and medicines); routine care of the full-time infant.