Detection of post-operative deep venous thrombosis with sup(99m)Tc-macroaggregates

The use of radionuclides was attempted in the development of a non-burdening bedside method to trace post-operative deep venous thrombosis in the legs. After a survey of existing clinical techniques the 125I-fibrinogen uptake test and the sup(99m)Tc-albumin macroaggregate compilation test are described and compared. The advantages and objections to both methods are tabulated. It was shown that sup(99m)Tc-albumin macroaggregates supply an indication in the scintigram for obstruction of the efflux in the venous system provided the thrombi are big enough to cause stasis. A portable counting rate meter was used which can be attached to a scintillation detector. In a separate chapter the testing of the method on rabbits using a gamma camera, is discussed. The pulses of the camera are put into a computer in list mode for further data processing which results into displaying a region of interest on an oscilloscope screen by a light pen. The findings in two groups of patients and the radiation burden of the method are discussed