Definition
Pulmonary embolism is one of the most common causes of death during pregnancy. Pulmonary embolism is the occlusion of one or more pulmonary vessels by a blood clot (thrombus). The circulatory disorder hinders the exchange of oxygen in the lung tissue and patients suffer from severe shortness of breath.
The risk of pulmonary embolism increases as pregnancy progresses, as the risk of thrombosis increases. Almost always, the blood clot that leads to pulmonary embolism is caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The clot detaches from the leg vein and is carried by the bloodstream to the lungs, where it clogs the pulmonary vessels.
Pregnancy is considered a risk factor for the development of pulmonary embolism. Blood clotting in pregnant women is modified to stop possible bleeding more quickly during the upcoming birth process. However, due to the increased tendency to clotting, the risk of thrombosis forming increases as the pregnancy progresses.
Women in the puerperium also still have an increased risk of thrombosis. Lack of exercise further increases the risk of a pulmonary embolism, especially in the second half of the pregnancy. Other factors that further increase the risk of coagulation are congenital blood coagulation disorders, smoking, obesity, tumor diseases or long periods of confinement to bed and immobilization.
Thromboses in the medical history also increase the risk of a pulmonary embolism. More about this:
- Causes of a pulmonary embolism
Women who suffer from a hereditary coagulation disorder (medically known as coagulopathies) have a significantly increased risk of suffering deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy and subsequently pulmonary embolism. In addition, the risk of miscarriage is also increased in this case, as thromboses can form on the placenta.
One of the most common blood coagulation disorders is factor V (APC resistance). Regular blood tests to check for blood clotting should be carried out during pregnancy in women with mutations. It may be necessary for those affected to take additional anticoagulant medication. This topic might also be of interest to you:
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- Pregnancy complications – What are the signs?
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