ABSTRACT
Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) remains a major cause of maternal mortality, and is currently the most common direct cause of maternal death in the United Kingdom48. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) underlies PTE. Many DVTs leading to fatal PTE are not recognized clinically, being identified only at post-mortem examination following a maternal death. As well as the acute morbidity and mortality of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy, DVT is associated with a significant risk of recurrent venous thrombosis and deep venous insufficiency, while PTE carries a risk of subsequent pulmonary hypertension. Pregnancy-related VTE may also identify women with an underlying thrombophilia, with implications not only for venous thrombosis but also for an increased risk of pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
