[Axillary-subclavian thrombosis: review of its etiology and features in recent years].

OBJECTIVES

To describe etiology and clinical characteristics of all patients diagnosed with axillary-subclavian vein thrombosis (ASVT) in our center.

METHODS

Retrospective study during last 4 years (January 1991 to December 1994). Only those patients with a typical phlebography were included.

RESULTS

42 patients were diagnosed with ASVT. 10 in 1991, 6 in 1992, 10 in 1993 and 16 in 1994. The average age was 56.3 years. About sex, 20 were in men and 22 in women. The right upper extremity was affected in 16 patients, left side was in 24 and 2 were bilateral. Respect the incriminating agent, a central venous line was the most common, finding in 24 patients (57.14%). A local external compression was detected in 9 patients (21.4%), in 5 the ASVT was associated to a hypercoagulability state and finally only 2 patients were diagnosed with spontaneous o effort ASVT (4.76%). In those associated to a central catheter, 8 patients had a subclavian venous line and 6 had a drum catheter. Lung, colon and breast malignancies were the types of tumours more diagnosed. Treatment basically consisted on intravenous heparin, dicumarinics and subcutaneous heparin. Long term results are not valid because most patients haven't post-treatment phlebography.

CONCLUSIONS

The possession of a catheter in the subclavian vein and the existence of a malignancy; especially a lung, colon or breast cancer, are the factors more associated with the development of an axillary-subclavian vein thrombosis in our area. The long of the average life span, the development and use of new oncologic treatment, besides the increasing use of the subclavian veins could do that ASVT would be a more frequent disease. In patients with several associated factors, could be used profilactics treatments.