Mortality and morbidity rates after inferior vena caval clipping.

In 112 patients receiving inferior vena caval, serrated, Teflon clips over a 7 year period beginning Jan. 1, 1966, the operative mortality rate was 6 percent (seven patients) and the 1 to 12 month mortality rate was 9 percent (10 patients). Patients with severe heart disease accounted for eight of these 17 deaths. The mortaligy rate was zero in patients who were free of heart disease, malignancy, sepsis, or massive pulmonary embolism. Recurrent pulmonary embolism was suspected, but not lethal, in four patients and was proved in two. Patients who had leg swelling preoperatively were more likely to have swelling postoperatively than those who were initially free of swelling. Postoperative anticoagulation was ineffective in preventing edema and carried the risk of wound hemorrhage. Twelve months after operation, 12 of the 83 patients available for follow-up had severe lower extremity symptoms and 23 had milder, easily controlled edema. Late stasis changes, therefore, appeared at an acceptably low frequency and could reasonably be expected for patients with lower extremity phlebothrombosis. There was no instance of fatal pulmonary embolism in the follow-up period extending from 1 to 6 years.