Deep Vein Thrombosis as a Rare Post-procedural Complication After Uterine Artery Embolization: A Case Report

When a patient is undergoing uterine artery embolization (UAE) which is considered a modality that is safer than surgical management for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), one must acknowledge as a surgeon the existence of rare but serious complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). We encountered such a case where a 34-year-old female (para-3 living-3) with AUB and severe anemia because of heavy bleeding required multiple blood transfusions and was treated with UAE. The procedure was uneventful and the patient was discharged. However, later she presented with DVT of the right lower limb which was promptly managed with an inferior vena cava filter implant and thrombolysis, which prevented life-threatening sequelae such as pulmonary embolism and, potentially, death. Therefore, one must be vigilant about such complications despite UAE being a safer alternative to surgical management for gynecological complaints.