[Venous thrombosis and its complications in patients with acute arterial occlusion]

The authors have studied the incidence of deep venous thromboses and embolism of pulmonary artery branches in patients with acute arterial occlusion. Autopsies of 1279 patients with acute arterial occlusion have revealed thrombosis of main veins in 219 patients (17,1%), embolism of the pulmonary artery branches--in 132 patients (10,3%), thromboembolism of pulmonary arteries being diagnosed in life time in 19 patients only (14,4%). Venous thrombosis was revealed in 25 of 33 patients with acute arterial occlusion by distal phlebography, retrograde iliocavagraphy or radioisotopic phlebography. In 5 patients with floating thrombosis of the iliac or inferior caval vein umbrella cava-filters were implanted in order to prevent an embolism of the pulmonary artery. The investigation of the venous system in patients with acute arterial occlusion is shown to be necessary.