Effects of Deep Femoral Thrombophlebitis on the Circulation of the Lower Extremities

Studies of the patterns of venous collateral circulation in patients with acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis and in patients with chronic postphlebitic limbs secondary to iliofemoral venous thrombosis show a close similarity to the collateral circulation which develops in experimental iliofemoral venous thrombosis. Serial phlebograms indicate that the collateral circulation will disappear only if the originally thrombosed deep system is returned to functional patency. This reconstitution of function to the venous valves is accomplisbed by early thrombectomy. Thrombectomy may, therefore, be the best protection against the development of a chronic postphlebitic limb.