[Phlebitis and phlebothrombosis in medical practice]

The general practitioner frequently encounters illnesses involving the risk of venous accidents or embolisms. He must keep this possibility in mind and seek the signs in cases as different as hiatal hernia, alimentary cancer, the use of estroprogestative drugs, and severe respiratory insufficiency. He must also bear its mind in relation to conditions leading to abdominal surgery and in connexion with pathological pelvic conditions in women. A general practitioner would advise preventive treatments and would treat pathological venous conditions that had been confirmed by a phlebologist. In the home, the virtues of treatment with antivitamins K, which is simple to apply, and heparin, which requires professional surveillance, are open to discussion. One personal case is cited that illustrates the great risks that resulted from delay in operating for fibromas which eventually led to repeated pulmonary embolisms because of pelvic compression. These developments made the operation very different and dangerous but nevertheless it was successful.