Long-term follow-up results of the iliofemoral venous thrombosis.

During the past 7 years 116 patients with acute and chronic iliofemoral venous thrombosis were treated surgically and medically. Exploration was undertaken mainly by clinical assessment and routine venography for follow-up was not considered as a requisite. Thrombectomy was performed 18 times in 17 patients with excellent or good results in 66.6%. Palma's operation was carried out 17 times in 17 patients with satisfactory results in 82.3%. These were contrasted with 34.2% satisfactory results among the medical patients. These lead to the following conclusion: 1. Venous thrombectomy within 14 days after the onset is effective. 2. The usefulness of delayed thrombectomy is uncertain. 3. Palma's operation offers satisfactory results for chronic iliofemoral venous thrombosis. 4. In Japan, in contrast with America and Europe, pulmonary thromboembolism is exceedingly rare and ligation or interruption of the inferior vena cava or the femoral vein is not performed routinely.