Korean Circ J.  2007 Mar;37(3):130-133. 10.4070/kcj.2007.37.3.130.

Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in the 8th Week of Pregnancy

• Ha SH
• Choi RK
• Jang JW
• Lim DS
• Hwang HK
• Ro YM

• KMID: 2227085
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2007.37.3.130

Abstract

A 29-year-old woman in her 8th week of pregnancy was referred to our hospital for swelling in the lower extremities, rapid onset of dyspnea (1 hr) and pre-syncope. Severe right ventricular dysfunction and moderate pulmonary hypertension were detected using 2-dimentional Doppler echocardiography. In addition, left calf vein and proximal thromboses were detected by venous compression ultrasound imaging. After successful thrombolytic treatment, the patient quickly recovered and was discharged from hospital on subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin. She delivered a normal, healthy infant at full-term (40 weeks).

Keyword

Pulmonary embolism; Thrombolytic therapy; Pregnancy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Dyspnea
Echocardiography, Doppler
Female
Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary
Infant
Lower Extremity
Pregnancy*
Pulmonary Embolism*
Thrombolytic Therapy
Thrombosis
Ultrasonography
Veins
Venous Thrombosis*
Ventricular Dysfunction, Right
Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Transthoracic echocardiograms in the apical 4-chamber view, both before and after the thrombolysis. A dilated, hypokinetic RV, and an increased RV/LV ratio caused by interventricular septal bulging into the LV (A). Two weeks following thrombolytic therapy, note the significant improvement in the right ventricular function, with reduction in the right ventricular dimension (B). RV: right ventricle, LV: left ventricle, RA: right atrium, LA: left atrium.

• 

  Fig. 2 Venous ultrasonography. Cross-section of the posterior tibial vein and artery demonstrating the thrombus (A) and incompressible vein (B). Color Doppler imaging of the femoral vein, showing the thrombus, with no phasic venous flow during respiration (C). A: artery, V: vein, SFA: superficial femoral artery, DFA: deep femoral artery.

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