title: Uterine trauma with fetal loss associated with chronic perforation of the inferior vena cava by an infrarenal vena cava filter.
abstract: Gestational complications in pregnant women have been considered a theoretical sequelae of vena cava filters (VCFs) positioned in the infrarenal segment of the inferior vena cava. We describe a 32-year-old woman who became pregnant with the known existence of an asymptomatic but chronically perforated, permanent infrarenal VCF. At 24 weeks gestation, uterine trauma leading to massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage and fetal loss occurred. Our case documents that gestational risk, heretofore theoretical, is real and calls for heightened awareness of the need for appropriate VCF management in women of childbearing age and consideration for preconception evaluation of the filter-bearing inferior vena cava in women considering pregnancy in whom VCFs have been previously implanted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapeutics, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Ky.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Maijub
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapeutics, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Ky; Department of Surgery, Piedmont Heart Institute, Atlanta, Ga. Electronic address: charles.ross@piedmont.org.
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Norton Hospital, Louisville, Ky.
authors.forename: Molly V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Houser
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapeutics, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Ky.
authors.forename: Marvin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Morris