[The role of support in the prevention of venous thromboses of the lower limbs]. / Rôle de la contention dans la prévention des thromboses veineuses des membres inférieurs.

Support and exercise has long been accepted as a mechanical method of preventing venous stasis. In recent years the role of the venous endothelium in the pathogenesis of thrombosis has been emphasised. The trouble occurs at the level of the microcirculation. Given the delicate balance at that level, it is easy to appreciate how various antagonistic systems (serotonin, quinine, etc.) can be easily distorted. Elastic support helps prevent these endothelial changes.

[Familial deficiency of antithrombin III]. / Déficit familial en antithrombine III.

The systematic search for a deficiency in antithrombin III must be considered in case of: venous thrombosis in a young patient, recurrent venous thrombosis especially if these occurred under Heparin, venous mesenteric infarction since this type of thrombosis is rare and seems relatively frequent in case of congenital deficiency in antithrombin III, familial past history of venous thrombosis in a woman desiring to undergo estrogen-progesterone therapy. The most often used techniques are: study of antithrombin III activity by amidolytic method and titration by immunodiffusion. Anti-vitamin K treatment is the only effective therapy proposed to patients suffering from a hereditary deficiency in antithrombin III.

[Value of Doppler studies and venous-occlusion rheoplethysmography in postphlebitic disease]. / Intérêt de l'examen Doppler et de la rhéopléthysmographie par occlusion veineuse au cours de la maladie post-phlébitique.

It is often difficult to confirm the diagnosis of post-phlebitic venous thrombosis. Doppler ultrasonography and plethysmography by venous occlusion can be performed in the consulting rooms to support the clinical diagnosis. These are comparative examinations which can be used to monitor the course of the disease. With a few examples, the authors demonstrate that Plethysmography by venous occlusion, in the initial phase, and venous doppler studies, in the second phase for localization of a possible thrombosis, are remarkable investigations in terms of their reproducibility, their safety and the fact that they can be readily repeated without the dangers associated with phlebography, which nevertheless still has an essential role.

[Post-traumatic ulcers in the elderly subject]. / Les ulcères post-traumatiques du sujet agé.

The occurrence of ulceration after minor traumatism in the older patient free from arterial disorders, can be explained by the decreased elasticity of the subcutaneous tissues, which thus provokes arterial rupture, which in turn brings on major bruising and the appearance of an area of necrosis whose surface is proportionately large or smaller according to the damage done to the arterioles. The treatment is straight forward, and usually leads to quick healing without scarring.