Caesarian section using a temporary IVC filter in a pregnant woman with several histories of deep vein thrombosis

A 31-year-old pregnant woman with a history of several episodes of deep vein thrombosis was scheduled for Caesarian section. The patient had an increased risk of intraoperative pulmonary thromboembolism due to thrombi isolated from deep veins. This is because a thrombus can be formed easily in deep veins by the influence of hypercoagulability in the third trimester and by the disturbance of venous return due to the pressure of the enlarged pregnant uterus. A temporary IVC filter (Filtre Thery®, France) was inserted preoperatively. The filter basket was set in the IVC cephalad from the left renal vein and caudad from the hepatic vein. The operation was completed without any trouble. Rehabilitation was safely initiated just after the surgery by insertion of the filter and then the filter was removed on the third postoperative day. We conclude that the preoperative insertion of a temporary IVC filter is a useful technique to prevent intraoperative pulmonary thromboembolism in a patient with a history of deep vein: thrombosis.