The underlying conditions favoring or precipitating hepatic vein or inferior vena cava thrombosis must be recognized and treated. This essential part of therapy is beyond the scope of this review.

Gestational edema occurs in late pregnancy secondary to increased venous congestion in the legs caused by pressure exerted mechanically by the uterus onto the inferior vena cava and iliac veins.

Medically reviewed by Scott Sundick, MD The inferior vena cava (also known as IVC or the posterior vena cava) is a large vein ...