Thrombotic complications of central venous catheters in cancer patients.

Today many patients with cancer have indwelling long-term central venous catheters. Benefits from catheter use include increased ease of administration of either chemotherapy or other drugs. However, these patients are prone to a number of complications, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and infection.

Prospective study on the usefulness of lung scan in patients with deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs.

Background: Asymptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common finding in patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs, but the usefulness of seeking for silent PE in patients with acute DVT has not been evaluated.

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective study involving consecutive patients with acute symptomatic proximal DVT (confirmed by objective methods) and no clinical suspicion of PE. All patients underwent chest X-ray, ventilation-perfusion lung scan and arterial blood gases on admission, and received anticoagulant therapy.

[Clinical analysis of unsuspected pulmonary thromboembolism at the emergency department].

Objectives: Evaluate the degree of suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department (ED).

Patients And Methods: We analyzed the cases of patients with TEP diagnosed during two years and compared group A (PE suspected) with group B (PE was not initially suspected).

Results: 57 cases of PE were admitted from ED.