Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in pregnancy and the postpartum period
β Scribed by Claire MCLINTOCK; Tim BRIGHTON; Sanjeev CHUNILAL; Gus DEKKER; Nolan MCDONNELL; Simon MCRAE; Peter MULLER; Huyen TRAN; Barry N.J. WALTERS; Laura YOUNG
- Book ID
- 115302111
- Publisher
- Wiley (Blackwell Publishing)
- Year
- 2011
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 223 KB
- Volume
- 52
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0004-8666
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β¦ Synopsis
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy and the postpartum is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality; yet, there are few robust data from clinical trials to inform an approach to diagnosis and management. Failure to investigate symptoms suggestive of pulmonary embolism (PE) is a consistent finding in maternal death enquiries, and clinical symptoms should not be relied on to exclude or diagnose VTE. In this consensus statement, we present our recommendations for the diagnosis and management of acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and PE. All women with suspected DVT in pregnancy should be investigated with whole leg compression ultrasonography. If the scan is negative and significant clinical suspicion remains, then further imaging for iliofemoral DVT maybe required. Imaging should be undertaken in all women with suspected PE, as the fetal radiation exposure with both ventilation/perfusion scans and CT pulmonary angiography is within safe limits. Lowβmolecularβweight heparin (LMWH) is the preferred therapy for acute VTE that occur during pregnancy. In observational cohort studies, using onceβdaily regimens appears adequate, in particular with the LMWH tinzaparin; however, pharmacokinetic data support twiceβdaily therapy with other LMWH and is recommended, at least initially, for PE or iliofemoral DVT in pregnancy. Treatment should continue for a minimum duration of sixβmonths, and until at least sixβweeks postpartum. Induction of labour or planned caesarean section maybe required to allow an appropriate transition to unfractionated heparin to avoid delivery in women in therapeutic doses of anticoagulation.
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