[Anesthetic management of cesarean section in a patient with pulmonary embolism due to protein S deficiency].

A 37-year-old pregnant woman (23 weeks' gestation) was consulted to us because of the left leg pain. On examination, she was diagnosed as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism due to protein S deficiency. She was admitted to our hospital and underwent anticoagulant therapy (heparin 10,000 units per day). At 38 weeks' gestation, she was scheduled for cesarean section. Before operation, she received anticoagulant therapy with continuous infusion of heparin (30,000 units per day) and prophylactic placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Heparin was discontinued 6 hours before operation. Spinal anesthesia using hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg and fentanyl 25 microg was performed and the operation was completed uneventfully. Preoperative anticoagulant therapy and placement of an IVC filter may be effective in preventing new pulmonary embolism, and regional anesthesia may be safe for cesarean section.