Abstract
Objective: The objective of this retrospective study was to analyse risk factors, management and outcome of upper limb deep venous thrombosis (ULDVT) in two London district hospitals.
Methods: The study group audited between May 1995 and July 2002 comprised 33 patients with ULDVTs, of which 12 were primary and 21 were secondary.
Results: Common risk factors included malignant disease (n=17, 51.5%), smoking (n=16, 48.5%), central venous access (n=9, 27.3%), cardiac disease (n =6, 18.2%) and hormonal therapy (n=4, 12.1%). None of the patients were evaluated for thoracic outlet compression. A thrombophilia screen was performed in eight patients with primary ULDVT and in seven patients with secondary ULDVT. Thrombophilic states were identified only in the primary group, in two patients. Twenty-eight patients were anticoagulated (84.8%) and overall symptoms resolved in 20 patients (60.6%). All 13 deaths occurred within the secondary group.
Conclusions: The present study reveals that there is no consensus in investigating and managing patients with ULDVT, which is probably due to the variety of aetiological factors of this condition.
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