[Prevention of fatal postoperative embolism using risk assessment tables and Greenfield filters]

The prevention of fatal post-operative pulmonary embolism requires a fair assessment of the risk. We have drawn up a score chart, applicable to the specific cases of arteritic amputation; based on the retrospective study of 45 cases operated on between 1977-1980. This chart was recorded on micro-computer, and used for the 20 cases of amputation in 1981. In the high risk cases, a caval Greenfield filter was applied in a prophylactic capacity: 4 patients were equipped with a filter. There was no case of pulmonary embolism in this group, whereas 4 patients had died of massive embolism between 1977-1980. The programme used means a progressive improvement of the score relative to the new case-histories studied. It may be quickly adapted to other cases of potentially high-risk patients.