What does this research mean for the field?

Alteplase administration successfully facilitates the rescue of an entrapped pericardial pigtail catheter. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This report aims to describe a unique case of using alteplase to rescue an entrapped pericardial pigtail.

May 7, 2026

Caught in the Web: Alteplase-Assisted Rescue of an Entrapped Pericardial Pigtail

Key Result

Alteplase administration successfully facilitated the rescue of an entrapped pericardial pigtail catheter in a 12-year-old boy with disseminated tuberculosis.

Key Points

This report aims to describe a unique case of using alteplase to rescue an entrapped pericardial pigtail.
Case report of a 12-year-old boy with disseminated tuberculosis.
Patient presented with worsening exertional dyspnea over 2 months.
Alteplase-assisted rescue procedure described.
Improvement in dyspnea symptoms post-intervention.
Successful removal of the entrapped pericardial pigtail.
Demonstrated the potential of alteplase in similar clinical scenarios.

Structured PICO

P

Population

12-year-old boy with disseminated tuberculosis on guideline-directed oral antitubercular therapy presenting with worsening exertional dyspnea for 2 months

I

Intervention

Alteplase-assisted rescue of an entrapped pericardial pigtail catheter

Case report describing the use of alteplase to rescue an entrapped pericardial pigtail catheter in a 12-year-old boy with disseminated tuberculosis.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

A 12-year-old boy with a case of disseminated tuberculosis who was on guideline-directed oral antitubercular therapy presented to the outpatient clinic with worsening exertional dyspnea for the past 2 months.