Deep vein thrombosis in ear, nose and throat surgery

I. One hundred and three patients undergoing head and neck or ear operations were screened for deep vein thrombosis using I125 labelled fibrinogen. 2. No thrombosis was detected in thirty-five patients undergoing ear operations. 3. Nine (16%) of fifty-six patients who underwent head and neck operations subsequently developed deep vein thrombosis. In a further twelve patients undergoing head and neck operations the ankle was used as a drip site and seven of these patients developed thrombosis in that leg.