THROMBOSIS OF THE SIGMOID OR LATERAL SINUS

Abstract

There is a difference of opinion in this country and in Europe regarding treatment of otitic sinus thrombosis. Dandy 1 questioned the necessity for ligation of the jugular vein or an attempt to remove an infected clot. Mygind 2 reported his results in two groups of patients with otitic sinus thrombosis who were treated by different methods. The first group included 98 patients observed during the period from 1915 to 1922, with recovery in 55 per cent. The treatment of these patients was: (1) diagnostic puncture of the infected sinus, (2) removal of the thrombus and (3) ligation of the jugular vein. Mygind's second group of 101 patients observed during the years from 1923 to 1930 were treated more conservatively, and 71 per cent recovered. In 93 of the 101 patients the infected mastoid cells were thoroughly opened, but nothing was done to the sinus or vein: 70 of these