Venous Thromboembolism Associated With Pregnancy: JACC Focus Seminar.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), composed of pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis, is a significant cause of maternal mortality in the developed world. Normal physiological changes of pregnancy increase coagulability, which is compounded by patient-inherited and acquired risk factors. Depending on these risks and peripartum stage, the benefits of thromboprophylaxis can outweigh potential side effects. Diagnosis requires cautious clinical acumen because many symptoms of normal pregnancy mimic those of VTE and algorithmic tools used in the nonpregnant population are not equally applicable. Choice of imaging technique must account for potential risk to the fetus and altered test accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) in the setting of pregnancy. When VTE is diagnosed, anticoagulation is the backbone of treatment, with more advanced therapies being options for those with right ventricular dysfunction or unstable hemodynamics. Overall, pregnancy-associated VTE is complex, and management decisions should be individualized and informed by patient preferences.