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Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

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Pulmonary Embolism

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Abstract

Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is one of the most common medical complications in pregnancy and is a leading cause of maternal mortality. All women should undergo risk stratification for venous thromboembolism (VTE) during pre-conception or early pregnancy evaluation, if adverse events occur during pregnancy, and pre-delivery or immediately post-partum. Due to a frequently nonspecific presentation, a high index of suspicion is necessary to make timely diagnosis. Chest imaging, either CTA or V/Q scanning, is indicated despite theoretical concerns about fetal and maternal radiation exposure. Treatment consists of prompt initiation of anticoagulation which is continued for at least 6 weeks postpartum and three months total from the PE diagnosis. The chapter presents a novel algorithmic approach to the diagnosis and management of the stable and unstable pregnant patient with suspected PE.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Joshua I. Rosenbloom

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Joshua I. Rosenbloom

  3. Department of Cardiology, Heart Institute, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Eyal Herzog & Donna R. Zwas

Authors
  1. Joshua I. Rosenbloom
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  2. Eyal Herzog
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  3. Donna R. Zwas
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Correspondence to Joshua I. Rosenbloom .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Eyal Herzog

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Rosenbloom, J.I., Herzog, E., Zwas, D.R. (2022). Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period. In: Herzog, E. (eds) Pulmonary Embolism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87090-4_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87090-4_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-87089-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-87090-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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