PHLEGMASIA CERULEA DOLENS AND ULCERATIVE COLITIS.

A case of chronic ulcerative colitis with phlegmasia cerulea dolens requiring almost total limb amputation is reported. The patient developed shock, massive gangrene of the left lower extremity and general sepsis, yet recovered and during the ensuing 2 years has acquired a prosthesis and evidenced an encouraging degree of rehabilitation. Refrigeration of the gangrenous limb seemed to be the therapeutic measure that was most decisive in returning this patient from a moribund .state to one which would permit the radical surgical amputation, which was necessary to save his life. We feel that this case illustrates the need for perseverance in the treatment of desperate cases of this type. It also serves as a reminder that refrigeration of the limb as a preparatory measure to obligatory amputation should not be forgotten, since occasionally it may salvage an apparently hopeless case. The pathogenesis of venous thrombosis in ulcerative colitis is obscure and remains a challenging problem for elucidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]