Frequently Asked Questions
Excerpted from recent VDF's Live "Ask the Doctor" Chat with Drs. Rathbun and Cherry

Question: I am 22 years old; about two years ago, I got a blood clot in my left leg and I have recently been told that I will be on Coumadin® for the rest of my life. This scares me since I want to have children. Are there any new medicines that I can take that are safe when I want to get pregnant?
Answer: Currently there are no new medicines that have been tested for prevention of blood clots during pregnancy. However, the good news is that there are standard treatments with low-molecular-weight heparin or regular heparin that have been used safely in many women during pregnancy. Coumadin® should not be used during pregnancy due to the risk of birth defects. Typically, a pregnant woman will take a daily heparin shot for the duration of her pregnancy and can resume Coumadin® after delivery. This regimen has been found to be safe both during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Question: When I was 17 years old and six months pregnant, I had a blood clot in my leg while I was in the hospital. I was treated with Lovenox®, but when I was released from the hospital, I did not go home with any kind of medication. Now I am 21 and am six months pregnant. The doctor has put me on Lovenox® for the rest of my pregnancy and I'm concerned about the effect this may have on my baby. Is this life- threatening for me or the baby, and what are the risks now or during labor?
Answer: Being on Lovenox® during pregnancy is safe. There is a slightly increased risk of bleeding while being on a blood thinner, but most pregnant women do very well on this regimen. Just before the delivery, your doctor may choose to stop the Lovenox® a day before delivery or switch you to IV heparin up until the time of delivery. This should be discussed with your doctor ahead of time.

Question: What is the difference between an aortic dissection and an aortic aneurysm?
Answer: An aneurysm is a localized enlargement or bulging of an artery, usually to twice its normal size. A dissection occurs when there is a split or tear in the innermost layer of the three layers of an artery, which then allows blood to flow on both sides of that layer, dissecting the artery and creating two channels of blood flow. It may cause an aneurysm in about 30% of patients over time. There are various other causes of aneurysms as well. An aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm is one that takes place in the aorta, the largest artery in the body.