[Venous signs at the acute stage of pulmonary embolism]

The authors have carried out phlebograms on 50 patients with recent pulmonary emboli. In the majority of cases (44 out of 50) they found thrombosis in the veins of the lower limbs: in 35 cases, these were situated proximally, ending in the femoro-ilio-caval segment; in 9 cases they were confined to the suropopliteal veins. These facts have led us to modify our treatment plan for pulmonary embolism. Thrombolytic treatment seems to be justified in cases where the prebitis is high up, even if the pulmonary embolus is benign. Heparin is reserved for those cases of benign pulmonary emboli which are secondary to suro-popliteal phlebitis. The question of interrupting the inferior vena cava must bed ecided in the light of the phlebograms.