[Post-partum development of a mesenteric venous infarct and portal thrombosis in a young woman taking an oral contraceptive (author's transl)]. / Infarctus mésentérique veineux avec thrombose portale chez une jeune fille en post-partum et sous contraceptifs oraux.

ABSTRACT

PIP: The article presents the case of a 19-year-old woman who developed a massive venous enteromesenteric infarct secondary to extensive portal thrombosis on the 21st day postpartum. The patient, who died notwithstanding tentative surgery to bypass the mesenteric obstruction, had started taking oral contraceptive (OC) pills on the 9th day postpartum, rather than wait until the return of menstruation. According to recent statistics thromboembolic risk is 9/100,000; the risk is multiplied by 6 in the postpartum, and by 3 under OC treatment. The diagnosis of venous mesenteric infarct is very difficult, and must take into consideration all possible antecedents. The treatment can sometimes be clinical; only surgery, however, can cure the problem, and bring the chances of survival to about 50%.