Caval thrombectomy for severe staphylococcal osteomyelitis.

Two children are presented in whom thrombosis of the inferior vena cava developed in association with an acute staphylococcal osteomyelitis. One case involved the left femur and the other the left ileum. Both children had diffuse bilateral staphylococcal pneumonia from presumed septic embolization. There were close similarities between their illness and management, except that the child who survived underwent a caval thrombectomy in the acute phase of her illness. It is hypothesized that the thrombectomy played an important role in her recovery.