Thromboembolism in pregnancy: a new temporary caval filter.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to check out the advantages of temporary caval filtration in pregnancy with a retrievable filter: Tempofilter (tCF). METHODS: During a period of 2 years we implanted tCF in four patients at the third pregnancy trimester with serious acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs for prophylaxis of pulmonary thromboembolic disease (TED) in the pre-partum, during Caesarian section (CS), and in the post-partum period. tCF has been placed percutaneously in local anaesthesia using the Seldinger technique and under image intensifier control. All procedures were performed in a polyvalent ICU. RESULTS: tCF positioning was always easy. No complications linked to the adopted technique occurred. No incidence of pulmonary embolism was reported (PE). The permanence period of tCF in situ was 14 to 29 days (mean+/-SD: 21+/-6). The CS always took place without complications either for the patient or for the foetus. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of tCF and an anti-coagulating therapy resulted in an effective prophylaxis of TED for the pregnant woman without any interferences with CS and with no consequence as for permanent endovascular prosthesis for the young patient herself.