Management of thrombophlebitis in the prepartum period. A case report

The case of a 30-year-old female who presented with acute onset of ileofemoral thrombophlebitis during the 37th week of pregnancy is presented. Treatment with intravenous infusion of heparin was initiated on the day of admission. The following day, the patient went into active labor. Heparin was stopped, and a Greenfield filter was placed in the suprarenal inferior vena cava. Six hours later, the patient had a normal vaginal delivery. Fifteen hours after delivery, heparin was restarted. The patient was discharged eight days later on therapeutic levels of Coumadin. Anticoagulation was maintained for six months and at one year she was asymptomatic.