Ambulatory care for ambulant patients with deep vein thrombosis
Blattler, W.
Journal des Maladies Vasculaires 16(2): 137-141
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0398-0499 PMID: 1861106 Document Number: 368691
A follow-up study is reported on 49 patients with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) treated on an ambulatory basis. Venography had shown crural DVT in 27 % and proximal extension in 73 %. The initial treatment consisted of heparin (7,500 U iv, 40,000 U sc), ethylbiscoumacetate (900 mg), phenprocoumon (9 mg), and a ready made compression stocking for the calf. The patients were advised to undertake frequent strolls, the first when leaving the office. Pain, swelling and incapacity for walking vanished within two days. The partial thromboplastintime was prolonged 2.4-times on the first day and the thromboplastintime was in the therapeutic range on the second day already. Until follow-up 4 patients died of other diseases. There was no clinical pulmonary embolism, no secondary hospitalisation and only one new DVT. Of 844 months of patients at risk of recurrence 50 % passed under anticoagulants and 70 % with compression therapy. At an average of 19 months, 82 % of patients were asymptomatic and 45 % showed mild chronic venous insufficiency. In contrast, impaired drainage function (by lightreflectionrheography) was found in 79 % overall and in 100 % after DVT of the proximal veins. The discrepancy is explained by the compliance with compression therapy.