Two Cases of Pulmonary Thromboembolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis Developed After Cesarean Section

Jung, H B; Bang, Y T; Kim, D Y; Han, K C; Hong, S Y; Choi, J W

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism is a critical complication of pelvic surgery. This diagnosis should be suspected if pulmonary symptoms occur abruptly. Pulmonary embolism is a complication of pelvic or lower extremity thrombophlebitis; Indeed, in some patients no evidence of thromboembolism can be found and occurs on about the several to tenth postoperative days, although it may occur at any time. Also, pulmonary thromboembolism, first identified as the leading cause of maternal death in 1970s, continues to account for an increasing proportion of maternal deaths. The main or major causes of maternal deaths were pulmonary thromboembolism, hemorrhage, ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy induced hypertension complication and infection. Recently, deaths by pulmonary thromboembolism may be becoming more important as a cause of maternal death. Pulmonary thromboembolism was originated almost commonly from the venous thrombus, especially deep vein thrombus in the leg, which migrated to and occluded the pulmonary vasculatures. Also, the deep vein thrombosis was most commonly located in the lower extremities. Of the deep vein thrombosis patients, 40% showed high probability pulmonary embolism on the lung perfusion scans. We reported 2 cases of pulmonary thromboembolism and deep vein thrombosis developed after cesarean section with the review of literature.