There are circumstances in the management of thromboembolic events during pregnancy when
anticoagulant therapy is either contraindicated or not advisable, such as when
pulmonary embolism (PE) or
deep venous thrombosis is diagnosed close to term, given the risk of
bleeding during delivery. In these cases, the thromboembolic risk can be controlled using temporary
inferior vena cava filters (T-IVCFs). We present the case of a pregnant woman with
thrombophilia who remained at rest for eight weeks due to an amniotic
prolapse and for whom the placement of a T-IVCF was decided at 32 weeks' gestation after
anticoagulant therapy had failed. An emergency
caesarean section was performed at 33 weeks' gestation due to
placental abruption following the spontaneous onset of preterm labour. The risk of
bleeding during delivery when high doses of
heparin are used, and the risk of PE when the
heparin dose is decreased, needs to be evaluated versus the risks related to T-IVCF placement procedure and, as such, a review of the published experience in this field is warranted. We have concluded that T-IVCFs can be a safe alternative treatment for pregnant women in whom anticoagulation
therapy is either contraindicated or not advisable.