What is postthrombotic venous obstruction and how can it be avoided?
What is postthrombotic venous obstruction and how can it be avoided? Anthony J. COMEROTA, MD, FACS, FACC Director, Jobst Vascular Institute, The Toledo Hospital, Toledo, OH, USA; Adjunct Professor of Surgery, University of Michigan Abstract Postthrombotic venous obstruction is part of the pathophysiology of a postthrombotic syndrome. When the obstruction occurs in the iliofemoral segment, postthrombotic morbidity is often severe. In a recent study, the intraluminal contents of chronically occluded postthrombotic common femoral veins were analyzed. Approximately 80% to 90% of the tissues analyzed were composed of type I collagen, with type III collagen comprising the remainder. Vascular endothelial growth…