A PROSPECTIVE, COMPARISON OF THE STATUS OF THE DEEP VENOUS SYSTEM AFTER TREATMENT WITH INTRACAVAL INTERRUPTION VERSUS ANTICOAGULATION

The safety and efficacy of caval interruption has been well demonstrat ed. Likewise, comparisons of caval interruption and anticoagulation ha ve shown similar rates of mean and long term clinical outcome. One con cern that continues to be voiced is whether or not anticoagulation enh ances venous recovery and function. The present study compares outcome by impedance plethysmography, Duplex scanning and clinical sequelae a t six months after the acute illness and treatment with either caval i nterruption or anticoagulation. The results show no significant differ ences between the two treatment groups.