RISK OF PULMONARY EMBOLISM ASSOCIATED WITH SUPERFICIAL VEIN THROMBOPHLEBITIS

This article represents the evaluation of risk of pulmonary embolism associated with superficial vein thrombophlebitis based on observations in more than 500 patients.We found that acute thrombophlebitis was associated with varicose veins stage C3 to C6 of the CEAP classification in 30% cases and varicose veins with insignificant valve insufficiency verified by duplex ultrasound scan in 35% patients. During the surgical operations we found thrombosis extending to the saphenofemoral junction in 90 patients (17.8%) while in 35 patients the thrombi were found in femoral vein. Thus 24.7% of patients were at high risk of pulmonary thromboembolism.