Clinical Challenges in Vascular Surgery: Phlegmasia in Pregnancy episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 8, 2026 · 38 MIN

Clinical Challenges in Vascular Surgery: Phlegmasia in Pregnancy

from Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast · host Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

A 25-year-old pregnant woman presents with a 1-day history of progressive pain and swelling. The foot is cold, pulseless and neurologic function is deteriorating by the hour. Imaging shows a massive iliofemoral DVT. Now both the limb and the pregnancy are threatened. Do you anticoagulate, thrombolyse or operate? Join us as we break down the management and decision making behind this rare but devastating case.Hosts:·      Christian Hadeed -PGY 4 General Surgery, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center·      Paul Haser -Division Chief, Vascular Surgery, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center·      Andrew Harrington, Vascular surgery, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center·      Lucio Flores, Vascular surgery, Brookdale Hospital Medical CenterLearning objectives:-       Recognize the clinical presentation and pathophysiology of phlegmasia cerulea dolens-       Describe how pregnancy affects decision making in patients with phlegmasia and venous thromboembolic disease-       Discuss the goals of treatment for patients with DVT’s and identify when operative intervention is indicated-       Describe the sequelae of DVT’s and how this relates to post thrombotic syndrome-       Review the indications, risks, and limitations of anticoagulation, catheter-directed thrombolysis, thrombectomy, and fasciotomy in the management of DVT and phlegmasia.-       Explain the role of IVUS in managing venous thromboembolic disease and May Thurner syndromeReferences:-       Vedantham, S., Goldhaber, S. Z., Julian, J. A., Kahn, S. R., Jaff, M. R., Cohen, D. J., Magnuson, E., Razavi, M. K., Comerota, A. J., Gornik, H. L., Murphy, T. P., Lewis, L., Duncan, J. R., Nieters, P., Derfler, M. C., Filion, M., Gu, C.-S., Kee, S., Schneider, J., … Kearon, C. (2017). Pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis for deep-vein thrombosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(23), 2240–2252. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1615066-       Gomes, M. S., Guimarães, M., & Montenegro, N. (2019). Thrombolysis in pregnancy: A literature review. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 32(14), 2418–2428. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2018.1438402-       Mangla, A., & Hamad, H. (2023). May-Thurner syndrome. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554377/-       Bates, S. M., Rajasekhar, A., Middeldorp, S., McLintock, C., Rodger, M. A., James, A. H., et al. (2018). American Society of Hematology 2018 guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism: Venous thromboembolism in the context of pregnancy. Blood Advances, 2(22), 3317–3359. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2018024802-       Kahn, S. R., Comerota, A. J., Cushman, M., Evans, N. S., Ginsberg, J. S., Goldenberg, N. A., et al. (2014). The postthrombotic syndrome: Evidence-based prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Circulation, 130(18), 1636–1661. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000130 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25246013/Sponsor URL: https://www.goremedical.com/If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listenBehind the Knife Premium: https://behindtheknife.org/premiumOral Board Review: https://behindtheknife.org/oral-boardOral Board Simulator: https://behindtheknife.org/oral-board/simulatorGeneral Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-reviewTrauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlasDominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkshipDominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotationVascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-reviewColorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-reviewSurgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-reviewCardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-reviewDownload our App:Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US

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