Abstract
Background Venous thromboembolism in pregnancy remains one of the leading causes of morbidity
and mortality.
Case A young, gravid patient presented with a cyanotic, edematous left lower extremity
with no distal pulses palpable. She was emergently taken to the operating room and
was found to have extensive iliofemoral thrombosis requiring femoral angioplasty and
embolectomy with 43.7-rad intraoperative radiation exposure. Phlegmasia cerulea dolens
and May–Thurner syndrome were diagnosed.
Conclusion Timely diagnosis and prompt surgical management are necessary due to the limb-threatening
nature of this condition. Despite maternal radiation exposure, the nature and extent
of fetal effects depends upon radiation dose and gestational age.
Keywords
venous thromboembolism - May–Thurner syndrome - pregnancy - phlegmasia cerulea dolens
