Iliofemoral-popliteal deep vein thrombosis at 35th week of pregnancy: treated with cesarean section and vena cava blockage plus thrombectomy

Pregnancy, due to its adaptive physiological changes, is a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis. Incidence of thromboembolic complications during pregnancy ranges from 0.76 to 1.72 per 1000 births. We present in this case report a pregnant woman with iliofemoral-popliteal deep vein thrombosis diagnosed at the 35(th) week of her pregnancy, who was treated with vena cava blockage and thrombectomy followed by cesarean section. Unfortunately, a rethrombosis developed in the patient after three days. We determined that the a-v fistula was blocked and not working. We found additionally that the deep vein thrombosis was closing the iliac vein completely on the left side and the blockage descending down through the inferior vena cava inlet with MRI. The patient underwent insertion of a retrievable vena cava filter, two stent implantation to the venous narrowings and surgical iliofemoral venous thrombectomy with concomitant re-creation of a temporary femoral arterio-venous fistula. Anticoagulation therapy with enoxaparine was started after the operation. The patient was discharged with warfarin under control of the INR value, and also with additional compression therapy (compression stockings) from the clinic. Without jeopardizing the mother and the baby, planning a combined surgical procedure, with a multidisciplinary approach is the best way to eliminate the risks of serious complications such as pulmonary embolism and mortality.