Use of the Greenfield filter for thromboembolic disease in pregnancy

Recent technical advances in surgical intervention for thromboembolic disease have made the Greenfield filter a safe and effective treatment when heparin is contraindicated or recurrent emboli develop. One successful use of Greenfield filter placement in pregnancy has been reported. We report six additional cases. Maternal morbidity was negligible, and fetal outcomes were good. The use of the Greenfield filter as an adjunctive therapy for treatment of severe thromboembolic disease in pregnancy appears to be safe and should be considered in appropriate candidates.