Pulmonary embolism during pregnancy and the postpartum period: report of 2 cases

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the high risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Methods: Two cases of PE during pregnancy and postpartum period were reported retrospectively.

Results: The first case was a pregnant woman with congenital heart disease at 39-week gestation. She underwent a successful cesarean section (CS) because of heart disease, but she manifested tachycardia, tachypnea, cyanosis, and dyspnea suddenly on the 10th day after CS and died soon after the onset of these symptoms. The diagnosis of PE was highly suspected clinically. The second case was a twin-pregnancy woman at 35-week gestation. Because of severe perinatal myocardiopathy, cesarean section was performed. Unfortunately, the patient died abruptly on the operation table. The diagnosis of PE was confirmed by autopsy.

Conclusions: The maternal mortality of PE during pregnancy and postpartum period is quite high. Whenever there is any doubt, objective examinations for PE should be started early in order to strive for the chances of the anticoagulant therapy.