RECURRENT FOREARM THROMBOPHLEBITIS AFTER TRANSVENOUS PERMANENT PACEMAKER INSERTION

This report describes a 69-year-old Japanese woman with bilateral fore arm thrombophlebitis that developed soon after transvenous permanent p acemaker insertion. Intravenous administration of urokinase and hepari n rapidly resolved fever, painful forearm swelling and inflammatory fi ndings. Digital subtraction venograms revealed a brachiocephalic vein thrombosis. A ten-month treatment with warfarin and ticlopidine result ed in the complete restoration of venous flow. Although thrombophlebit is associated with transvenous permanent pacemaker insertion has a rel atively low incidence (0.3%), prompt diagnosis and treatment with anti coagulant and/or thrombolytic agents are important for the late clinic al outcome in cases with deep venous thrombosis.