[Therapy and prevention of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in gynecology and obstetrics].

AIM: The aim of this paper is to present the latest developments in therapy and prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis in gynecology and obstetrics.

DATA EXTRACTION: The data presented in the paper have been extracted from the Current Contents database. In the introduction, the coagulation cascade is described, and certain coagulation abnormalities caused by deficiency or decreased activity of coagulation factors are highlighted. The most prominent signs of deep vein thrombosis in pregnant women are swelling and tenderness of the affected leg, sometimes accompanied with fever and leucocytosis. In pelvic thrombosis, swelling of the leg is often absent and such a condition may be mistaken for other abdominal emergencies. The diagnostic algorithm for deep vein thrombosis starts with the clinical Wells criteria. To confirm the diagnosis it is necessary to visualize the thrombus by one of the imaging methods. The value of D-dimer is limited by its low positive predictive value, particularly in pregnant women. Low weight molecular heparin's have lately almost replaced standard heparin in the treatment of the deep vein thrombosis in pregnant women for providing advantages of subcutaneous application, no need of laboratory control of coagulation parameters, lower risk of bleeding, and lower incidence of osteoporosis and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. We list the recommendations of the American College of Chest Physicians published in 1991, which stratify pregnant women with deep vein thrombosis according to their medical history and laboratory parameters. We have specified the proposed approach according to: history of deep vein thrombosis due to transient risk factors; previous idiopathic deep vein thrombosis without anticoagulant therapy; previous deep vein thrombosis with thrombophylia; previous idiopathic deep vein thrombosis on anticoagulant therapy; laboratory-proven thrombophilia with no history of deep vein thrombosis; and recurrent deep vein thrombosis. Pregnant women with artificial heart valves may undergo one of three proposed treatments. Long preoperative hospitalization, prolonged operative procedures, extensive injuries of blood vein vessels on radical procedures, frequently present accompanying malignant disease or previous irradiation therapy and postoperative bed-ridden period after major gynecologic procedures increase the risk of perioperative development of deep vein thrombosis. It is necessary to appraise this risk, classify patients in one of the four groups, and administer appropriate measures. Patients at a low risk of developing thromboembolic incidents are those younger than 40, undergoing procedures lasting less than 30 minutes and without other risk factors. The risk is moderate in patients aged 40-60 without other risk factors, or those aged under 40 having malignancy have high risk. Patients at a very high risk are those with a history of deep vein thrombosis, thrombophilia or pelvic exenteration. In the last decade there has been a great advancement in the diagnostics and treatment of deep vein thrombosis. The discovery of genetic disorders predisposing the patient to the development of a thromboembolic incident (thrombophilia) has changed our position concerning the duration of anticoagulant therapy, and nowadays it can last from several months to a lifetime regimen, depending on the underlying mechanism causing the incident. A significant improvement in therapy has occurred with the introduction of low molecular weight heparins in clinical practice. Their therapeutic value is equal to standard heparin, and their advantages include easier dosage and less nursing time as well as in a lower incidence of side effects such as haemorrhage. For these reasons, low molecular weight heparin has almost completely replaced standard heparin in the western world.