Update on pulmonary embolism in pregnancy and post-partum: The Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand Position Statement on Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy and Post-partum

Sandra A Lowe; Helen L Barrett; Briony A Cutts; Irena Idel; Josephine Laurie; Angela Makris; Mark R Morton; Joanne Said

doi:10.1111/ajo.13418

Update on pulmonary embolism in pregnancy and post-partum: The Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand Position Statement on Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy and Post-partum

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2021 Dec;61(6):830-836. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13418. Epub 2021 Aug 26.

Authors

Sandra A Lowe^{1

2}, Helen L Barrett^{3

4}, Briony A Cutts^{5

6}, Irena Idel⁷, Josephine Laurie^{8

9}, Angela Makris^{10

11}, Mark R Morton^{12

13}, Joanne Said^{14

15}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetric Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
² School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Department of Endocrinology, Mater Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁵ Department of Obstetric Medicine, Joan Kirner Women's and Children's at Sunshine Hospital, Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ Eastern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Department of Obstetric Medicine, Mater Mothers' Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁹ University of Queensland Mater Clinical Unit, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Nephrology and Obstetric Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, SWSLHD, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
¹¹ University of New South Wales and Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
¹² Women's & Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
¹³ University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
¹⁴ Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Joan Kirner Women's & Children's Sunshine Hospital, Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
¹⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 34435660
DOI: 10.1111/ajo.13418

Abstract

In this clinical review we highlight aspects of the diagnosis and management of pulmonary embolism (PE) in pregnancy and post-partum and how this may impact on antenatal and postnatal management. Investigation for PE in pregnancy is challenging and includes appropriate patient selection and knowledge of the risks and benefits of pulmonary imaging modalities. The complete Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand Position Statement on Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy and Post-Partum comprehensively reviews all aspects of diagnosis, investigation and management and is accessible at https://www.somanz.org/guidelines.asp. It includes a summary of all recommendations and a guide to developing a management plan for birth in women on anticoagulation.

Keywords: anticoagulation; pregnancy; pulmonary embolism; radiation.

MeSH terms

Australia
Female
Humans
New Zealand
Postpartum Period
Pregnancy
Pulmonary Embolism* / diagnostic imaging
Pulmonary Embolism* / therapy