[Operative treatment of deep vein thrombosis (author's transl)]

From 1973 to 1977 a total of 63 patients with thrombosis of the deep veins in leg and pelvis and in the V. cava inferior was treated by operative thrombectomy. Prior to the operation all patients were submitted to phlebography. The mean age of all was 52 years. One patient died from pulmonary embolism during thrombectomy, there was no further hospital mortality. Because of low mortality incidence and rarely postthrombotic complications we prefer the operative treatment of deep vein thrombosis. The preoperative cavography helps to avoid pulmonary embolism during thrombectomy.