[Post-partum development of a mesenteric venous infarct and portal thrombosis in a young woman taking an oral contraceptive (author's transl)].

A 19-year-old girl developed a total venous infarct of the small intestine secondary to extensive portal thrombosis, on the 21st post-partum day. She had started to take an oral contraceptive on the 9th post-partum day, and the association of these two factors appears to have played a major role in the physiopathology of this accident. Diagnosis is difficult and often delayed in this affection, which can only be suspected as a function of the previous medical history. Prognosis is usually very poor in cases of massive mesenteric vein infarcts, and can only be improved by early removal of the venous obstruction, with or without intestinal resection.