Prevention of Pulmonary Embolism

According to Vollmar (1990) there were approximately 600 000 cases of iliofemoral venous thromboses in Germany in 1982 (23). Heinrich and Klink (1981) have calculated that 25%-50% of deep venous thomboses may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE). Beneke (1973) calculated lethal complications of PE at 24.7%. In the USA the incidence of lethal PE has been estimated at 50000-200000 patients every year (Zwaan et al. 1995). According to Schwarz (1965) there is an increasing tendency of severe PE in the First World in spite of mechanical and chemical prophylaxes to be discussed.