Pregnancy and delivery after right common carotid artery endarterectomy

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery atherosclerosis and essential hypercholesterolemia can add a predisposing risk factor for coagulation in pregnancy. Careful management of anticoagulation during labor, delivery, and puerperium is called for in such a case. CASE: A 41-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1, with a previous endarterectomy at the right common carotid artery because of atherosclerotic plaques, underwent anticoagulation studies and prophylactic antithrombotic therapy. Low-molecular-weight heparin was administrated during pregnancy and puerperium. She successfully delivered by cesarean at 36 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSION: Low-molecular-weight heparin treatment is an effective and safe therapy in pregnancy. The healthy course of therapy, delivery, and puerperium reported here is a reference that may support women with a similar history.