title: Use of two Greenfield caval filters to prevent recurrent pulmonary embolism in a heparin-allergic gravida.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal mortality may be reduced by prompt diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 25-year-old pregnant woman required a second Greenfield filter after developing a heparin allergy and recurrent pulmonary embolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heparin allergy has not been reported previously in pregnancy. A Greenfield filter may be used in this circumstance. Extension of the thrombus cephalad to the filter can cause recurrent emboli, so deployment of a second caval filter may be an effective remedy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Providence Hospital, Southfield, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Arbogast
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Blessed
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lacoste
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gonda
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012008:Recurrence; D016306:Vena Cava Filters
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin