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Although pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism (VTE) is relatively uncommon, it is a leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. Physiological changes during pregnancy and the puerperium raise risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE); this risk is compounded in women with inherited or acquired propensities for thrombosis. Prevalence of risk factors such as maternal obesity and cesarean delivery continues to rise. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has updated its guidelines for managing women at risk for VTE during pregnancy.
Evaluation of suspected VTE during pregnancy
If DVT is suspected, compression ultrasound is recommended; if PE is suspected, ventilation-perfusion scanning and comp…