Deep Vein Thrombosis in Post-partum Case of Caesarean Section: A Case Report
Adapted from Srivastava M, et al. Int J Sci Stud. 2015;3(1):219–220.
Key Takeaway
Risk of DVT is increases by 5–10 times during pregnancy, and further 5–10 folds in C-section
- During early pregnancy, all women should be assessed for the risk factors of DVT
- Repeat the assessment
- if the woman is admitted to a hospital or develops intercurrent problems
- during intra-partum or immediately postpartum periods
Early ambulation in the post-operative patient is crucial to prevent deadly complication
- Diagnosis can be made by compression ultrasonography that has high sensitivity (97%–100%) and specificity (98%–99%)
- The RCOG guidelines recommended the use of graduated elastic compression stockings (knee length 30–40 mmHg) to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome
Why This Matters
DVT is one of the main causes of maternal morbidity and mortality
CASE PRESENTATION
- A 33-year-old primiparous women, 38-week pregnant, was hospitalized for labor pains
- She had no personal or family history of thromboembolism
- Women responded well to the anticoagulation therapy and discharged with treatment of coumadin, maintaining INR between 2 and 3
- Follow-up clinic and long-term anticoagulation was advised for next 6 months to prevent recurrence of thromboembolic episodes
ABBREVIATIONS:
BID, twice-daily; C-section, caesarean section; DVT, deep vein thrombosis; INR, international normalized ratio; RCOG, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Marik PE, Plante LA. Venous thromboembolic disease and pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:2025–2033. DOI: doi:10.1056/NEJMra0707993.
MAT-BH-2300437/V1/June2023