[Surgical considerations on the duration of heparin therapy in deep venous thrombosis]

The authors report their experience of the medical treatment of deep venous thrombosis. Certain surgeons have attempted venous thrombectomy at the acute stage, but many have abandoned this technique which appears perfectly sound. The authors have continued to rely on heparin treatment by intravenous injection ; the introduction 5 years ago of phlebographic methods for following the evoluton of thelesions has led the authors progressively to prolong the duration of heparin treatment. The results of this approach to therapy are illustrated in several cases by phlebograms.