Paradoxical massive pulmonary thromboembolism in a postpartum woman with factor VII deficiency with bleeding tendency: A case report

Abstract

Rationale: Factor VII (FVII) deficiency is an inherited bleeding disorder, and women with FVII deficiency are at risk of gynecological bleeding and postpartum hemorrhage. There have been no reports of pulmonary embolism in a postpartum woman with FVII deficiency as of yet. We report a case of postpartum massive pulmonary embolism with FVII deficiency. Patient concerns: A 32-year-old woman visited the hospital with premature rupture of membranes at 24 weeks and 4 days of gestation. She was diagnosed with FVII deficiency in an additional blood test after her laboratory results at admission included an increased prothrombin time and international normalized ratio abnormalities. After 12 days of pregnancy maintenance treatment, an emergency cesarean delivery was performed due to uncontrolled preterm labor. The day after the operation, she suffered a sudden loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest, and after she received 1 cycle of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, she was moved to the intensive care unit. Diagnoses: She was diagnosed with massive pulmonary thromboembolism with heart failure by chest enhanced computed tomography, C-echo, and angiography. Interventions: She was successfully treated with the early application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, catheter-guided thrombectomy, and anticoagulants. Outcomes: There were no major sequelae over 2 months of follow-up. Lessons: FVII deficiency does not protect against thrombosis. Due to the high thrombotic risk after childbirth, the risk of thrombosis should be recognized, and thromboprophylaxis should be considered if additional obstetric thrombotic risk factors are present.