CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY 7 TO 10 YEAR S AFTER PARTIAL VENA-CAVA INTERRUPTION WITH A CLIP

In order to test the responsibility of inferior vena cava clips in pos t thrombotic venous disease, we performed a comparative retrospective study 7 to 10 years after vena cava interruption by clip. Patients wer e compared with patients matched for sex, age, and prior deep vein thr ombosis (same period and same localisation) but without inferior vena cava partial interruption. The results show that 1) functional complai nts were significantly higher in the vena cave clip group; 2) valvular incompetency, in the initially thrombosed leg, (tested by scanning du plex) was not different in the two groups; 3) inversely, on the other leg, valvular incompetency was greater in the vena cave group. Further more this valvular incompetency was principally located at a femoral l evel, suggesting that the vena cave clip may induce backward thrombosi s; 4) complications were independent of vena cava thrombosis.