The Question
Which ONE of the following five statements (a-e) is true regarding pregnancy associated venous thromboembolism?
a) Around 25% of pregnancy related pulmonary emboli occur in the 6 weeks following delivery
b) Comparing the three trimesters of pregnancy, the venous thromboembolism risk is greatest in the third trimester
c) The daily risk of pulmonary embolus is greater in the 6-week postpartum period than at any other time in the pregnancy
d) The incidence of venous thromboembolism is between 3 and 5 per 1000 deliveries
e) The risk of venous thromboembolism in pregnancy is around twenty times that of women of a comparable age
The Answer
c) The daily risk of pulmonary embolus is greater in the 6-week postpartum period than at any other time in the pregnancy
The Explanation
The risk of venous thromboembolism, according to meta-analyses and diagnostic testing in asymptomatic pregnant women, the incidence is around 0.5-1.5 per 1000 deliveries, around 5-10 times the risk compared to comparable aged non-pregnant women, with the risk being equally distributed through the three trimesters but the risk in the 6 week post partum period being relatively greater each day since 40-60% of events occur in this time
The Link
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