[The course of postoperative deep vein thrombi as judged by repeated phlebographies]

Abstract

Phlebography was carried out in a prospective randomised, controlled study during which dextran and small doses of s.c. heparin have been compared in general surgical and urological patients, in 31 persons with proven deep vein thrombois diagnosed with the 125I-fibrinogen test. In 16 out of the 31 patients a second phlebogram coule be performed two weeks later. In this study all thrombi occurred intraoperatively. In 24 of the 31 patients, the appearance of thrombi was multilocular. Independent of the prevention instituted and irrespective of the therapy, the following phenomena could be seen 14 days after the first phlebogram: 9 thrombi retracted, 6 disappeared completely and 1 occluded the vein completely. 2 thrombi disappeared without any therapy whatsoever, the 4 others disappeared in patients receiving heparin and/or coumarin for treatment.