title: Pulmonary embolism.
abstract: A major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and the puerperium is thromboembolic disease. Pregnancy is a hypercoagulative state that predisposes the gravida to thrombus formation. Once a thrombus forms in the venous system of the lower extremities, it can travel to the pulmonary arterial bed, which can lead to hypoxemia or death. Maternal mortality associated with pulmonary embolism (PE) is approximately 14%. Most gravidas who have PE during or after pregnancy have no history of thromboembolic disease at the time of insult.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy