EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF PHLEBO THROMBOSIS WITH AID OF A NEW CLINICAL TEST

Abstract

Speculation has been endless in an attempt to determine why thromboembolism is still so prominent a cause of death. As early as 1934, John Homans¹popularized the concept of pulmonary embolism originating in the leg veins and its prevention by venous interruption. He made the first clear differentiation of inflammatory from "bland" phlebitis. Ochsner and DeBakey²gave the latter the term phlebothrombosis. Homans also described a clinical test that has been helpful in establishing the diagnosis in doubtful cases. Following this lead, many studies have been made both in clinical and laboratory investigation, and numerous tests have been described. Venography was investigated and found unreliable. The advent of anticoagulant drugs served as an additional stimulus, and the persons studying the means of therapy divided; some favored surgical interruption of the venous system, and others favored the use of anticoagulant drugs. Despite all these advances, the overall incidence of