Thrombophlebitis associated with pregnancy

Abstract Of 32,337 pregnant patients observed, 457 had significant superficial or deep thrombophlebitis either during or following termination of pregnancy. Superficial thrombophlebitis was diagnosed in 52 patients during pregnancy and 341 after pregnancy; deep thrombophlebitis occurred in 17 patients during pregnancy and in 47 after it. Although anticoagulant medications were not used for treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis during pregnancy, they commonly were administered for severe superficial thrombophlebitis that followed pregnancy. All patients who had deep thrombophlebitis were treated with anticoagulant drugs. Only 13 of the 32,337 patients developed pulmonary embolism in association with pregnancy. All patients who developed thrombophlebitis or pulmonary embolism recovered after treatment without serious sequelae.