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Review
. 2017 Dec;7(Suppl 3):S309-S319.
doi: 10.21037/cdt.2017.10.08.

Deep venous thrombosis in pregnancy: incidence, pathogenesis and endovascular management

Paola Devis  1 , M Grace Knuttinen  2
Affiliations
Review

Deep venous thrombosis in pregnancy: incidence, pathogenesis and endovascular management

Paola Devis et al. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) during pregnancy is associated with high mortality, morbidity, and costs. Pulmonary embolism (PE), its most feared complication, is the leading cause of maternal death in the developed world. DVT can also result in long-term complications that include postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) adding to its morbidity. Women are up to 5 times more likely to develop DVT when pregnant. The current standard of care for this condition is anticoagulation. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathogenesis, prophylaxis and diagnosis of DVT during pregnancy, and then focuses on endovascular treatment modalities. Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement and pharmacomechanical catheter directed thrombolysis (PCDT) in the pregnant patient are discussed, as well as patient selection criteria, and complications.

Keywords: Deep vein thrombosis; risk factor; unfractionated heparin (UFH).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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