[Incidence of lung embolism before and after thrombectomy of deep leg and pelvic vein thrombosis].

According to scintigraphic and pathological studies, pelvic and thigh venous thrombosis led to pulmonary embolism in 50-60% of all cases. After thrombectomy, an incidence of 1% is reported, when assessed only clinically. In 29 patients with acute pelvic or thigh venous thrombosis, perfusion scintigraphic lung scans were performed immediately before operation and on day 1 or day 2 postoperatively. In 7 patients (24.1%) preoperatively and 12 patients (41.4%) postoperatively, segmental perfusion defects indicating pulmonary embolism were demonstrated. Thus the incidence of pulmonary embolism according to thrombectomy is much higher than previously suspected.