DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS AND ASSOCIATED PUL MONARY-EMBOLISM - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY ON 155 PATIENTS

This study was designed to assess the risk of associated pulmonary emb olism according to the level of deep venous thrombosis. From March 199 2 to March 1994, 328 patients were referred to medical units for suspe cted deep venous thrombosis, with recent clinical signs, less than a w eek. Each patient underwent contrast venography and/or duplex ultrasou nds of lower extremities, ventilation and perfusion lung scan within 4 8 hours and angiography in case of low or intermediate pulmonary embol ism probability. Diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis was confirmed in 155 patients; location was distal in 41, proximal in 214; an associate d pulmonary embolism was found in 66 patients (10 with distal, 56 with proximal deep venous thrombosis); odds ratio was 2.99 (95% Cl: 1.2-3. 13). Significantly higher risk of associated pulmonary embolism when d eep venous thrombosis involves proximal veins is confirmed, but as man y as 10 out of 41 patients with distal thrombosis also had an associat ed embolism. Management of both distal and proximal deep venous thromb oses appears identical.