Ante-partum Thrombo-embolism.

WHILST thrombo-embolism is a well recognised complication of the puerperium, ante-partum it is rare. No mention of its management is to be found in standard textbooks. Despite controversy concerning the value of anticoagulant treatment in arterial thrombotic disease, the efficacy of this therapy in venous thrombo-embolism is now well established. The apparent rarity of this condition in the antepartum period and its high mortality rate, coupled with the special hazards of anticoagulant treatment at this time prompt this report of two cases, in one of which the outcome for both mother and baby was favourable and another where post-mortem cwsarean section was employed.