[Phlebothrombosis or thrombophlebitis? That is the question!]

We have studied retrospectively 29 patients with a red blood cells venography preceded by a flow study allowing the evaluation of the microcirculation of the limbs. Fifteen of these patients had a normal flow study and fourteen had an increased one. We have correlated these 2 groups of patients with their incidence of pulmonary embolism. With the normal flow study, there was an incidence of 12/15 (80%) of pulmonary embolism and with the increased flow, it was 6/14 (43%). We conclude that the flow study preceding the red blood cells venography can identify a subgroup of patients at high risk of pulmonary embolism.