Thrombotic side-effects of lower limb venography The use of heparin-saline flush

In a prospective study of 256 postoperative patients, bilateral lower limb venography was performed using meglumine iothalamate followed by heparin-saline flushing of the deep veins, and the complications of the procedure were assessed. No patient developed clinical evidence of deep-vein thrombosis after the venogram. In 117 patients fibrinogen uptake was performed 24 hours after the venogram. A new positive area on the uptake scan developed in 3 patients (2,6%). Local swelling or haematoma at the injection site occurred in 15 patients (5,9%), cellulitis in 2 (0,8%) and minor contrast reactions in 6 (2,3%). There were no major reactions and no procedure-related mortality. The reasons for the wide variation in the reported incidence of post-venogram thrombosis are considered and the importance of heparin-saline flushing of the deep veins to prevent this complication is discussed