Central venous thrombosis: A hazard of medical progress

Autopsy reports of 139 burned patients who died during the period 1 January 1970 to 1 July 1972 were reviewed. Central venous thrombosis occurred in 36.7% of the autopsy cases, with 25 of 64 clots demonstrating suppuration. Pulmonary embolization occurred in 42 patients, and the source of the emboli was related to central venous thrombosis in three fourths of the cases. Compared with previous studies of complications of intravenous therapy, there has been a sharp increase in central venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolization associated with more frequent use of central venous catheters. The clinical diagnosis of central venous thrombosis, both suppurative and bland, is extremely difficult, and must be suspected in cases of sepsis of unknown origin in the thermally injured patient.