It is used in ST elevation myocardial infarction, stroke, and in cases of severe venous thromboembolism (massive pulmonary embolism or extensive deep vein thrombosis).

Thrombolysis can also play an important part in reperfusion therapy that deals specifically with blocked arteries.

In countries with more extensive and independent qualifications, prehospital thrombolysis (fibrinolysis) may be initiated by the emergency care practitioner (ECP).

[citation needed] Some fibrinolytics are: A 2023 meta-analysis of 44 studies[17] compared treatments for pulmonary embolism including thrombolytic therapy delivered through a catheter.

[18] Researchers showed a 10-fold variation in the proportion of patients who received thrombolysis after stroke in England and Wales, ranging from 1 in 50 (2%) to 1 in 4 (24%).

The team also showed that most of the variation was explained by hospital processes (such as how quickly people can have a brain scan) and in doctors’ decision-making (who they think should or should not receive thrombolysis) rather than knowledge of the time of stroke.