66 Berl. klin. Woch., Nov. 13, 1876.
A case of thrombo-phlebitis following otitis and terminating in recovery is reported at length by Wreden.67
67 Archives of Ophth. and Otol., 1874, lii. (translation).
The PROGNOSIS in any particular case can be based only on the severity of the symptoms and on the character of the preceding disease.
TREATMENT.—The prophylaxis of this affection evidently consists in the proper treatment of the diseases upon which it depends, and might therefore be made to embrace nearly the whole range of tonic, roborant, antiphlogistic, and antiseptic measures, to say nothing of surgery and obstetrics. The proper nourishment of infants and children, the cutting short, when possible, of their acute diseases, or preventing their debilitating effects, will reduce marantic thrombosis to a minimum. At a later period of life the proper surgical management of carbuncle, abscess in the neck, and of the puerperal condition will tend to avoid this risk.
The most important point of all, however, is undoubtedly the careful treatment of otitis media and early attention to inflammation in the mastoid cells, with incision or trephining as may be necessary.
After a thrombus has formed there is little to be done toward its removal.
It has been claimed68 that the preparations of ammonia are capable of diminishing considerably the coagulability of the blood when it is morbidly augmented. Though this cannot be considered proved, yet since the tendency of these salts is also to quicken the blood-current, a trial in a case where other indications are wanting is, to say the least, justifiable.
68 Lidell, Am. Journ. Med. Sci., July, 1874, p. 101.
In a case reported by O'Hara,69 where the symptoms pointed very strongly toward thrombosis of the cavernous sinuses, recovery took place under mercurials, iodide of potassium, and purgatives. The reporter was inclined to consider the cause of trouble specific.