Anyone had a V/Q scan in pregnancy??

[MummaHG]

Im currently on Clexane for a possible blood clot, im only 14 weeks pregnant so have a long way to go with these injections. My GP said its silly to put my body though this stress if its not certain i have a blood clot. The Hospital was only 50% sure that i could have.

My GP has mentioned a VQ scan to be sure but im not too keen due to risks to the baby.

has anyone had one of these scans, if so please let me have some info so i can make up my mind.

Im stressing so much about this that its driving me mad & i feel guilty on my 2 boys and DH for being so grouchy all the time.

Thanks

BUMP!

have you been referred to a heamatologist?

not sure what a VQ scan is.. i had a veinogram when pregnant, and was covered with a lead apron...

sounds like you need more info and a referral if your GP and hospital are not sure.. can you have a d-dimas (sp?) when pregnant . it is a non invasive blood test to say if you have had a clot, but i think pregnancy can skew the results

I think it would depend on the gas that you have to inhale and whether that would be harmful. I don't think the actual scan would be harmful as when they do them, the technicians don't hide behind a lead screen or anything. I just can't remember what the gas they use is called sorry.

No i havent been refered to anyone, i was just told to take these clexane injections twice a day until 6 weeks after delivery. its so frustrating as my GP isnt being very helpful.
Im going to see her again tomorrow so will ask for more info,
THanks for your advice

VQ scan is an Xray based scan to determine if you have had a blood clot to the lung. What investigations have they done so far? Have you or any family had any clotting problems in the past?

PE (pulmonary embolism) is a life threatening condition and pregnancy is a risk factor. A VQ scan might give a better idea but is still not 100%. The injections will treat you for the blood clots and virtually eliminate your risk of serious risk to your help. Having said that I'd want to make sure that appropriate investigations were done and possible referral to haematology.

How long have you been on Clexane ? It is probably too late to do a VQ scan as the clot may have dissolved by now.

But, in any case, a V/Q scan would not be the preferred test anyway - you can reduce the dose to your baby by various techniques (it's a two part scan, one part involves and injection of a radioactive drug, the other breathing in a radioactive gas), but it's not terribly sensitive as a test. It's much better (if it is felt that you require testing) to have a CTPA - a CT scan of your chest which can map blood flow.

Both do give some radiation to your baby, and so shouldn't be taken lightly, so are only used when the benefit outweighs the risk of not doing them.

Did you have a DVT confirmed ? In which case, they would normally put you on Clexane whether you also had PEs or not iirc