Postpartum Maternal Mortality and Pulmonary Embolism: A Case Report

Introduction: Pregnancy and postpartum are very high-risk periods for venous thromboembolism events (VTE), which seems to extend far beyond the classical 6-8 weeks after childbirth. Case presentation: The patient was a 33-year-old, 158 cm, and 70.5 kg 2 gravida on the sixth day of the 40th week of pregnancy, and she was hospitalized on the 7th day before vaginal delivery for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Vital signs were normal at the time of hospitalization. The results of the blood test and urinalysis during hospitalization were all normal. Only sign of the patient during the hospitlization was pale. Unfortunately, the patient 3 days after discharge referred to the health facility with dyspnea and died. Other patient was 28-year-old,155 cm, and 72 kg 1 gravida, and he was hospitalized on the 3rd day before vaginal delivery for thrombocytopenia. Last complete blood count (CBC) plt was 118,000. She had no personal or family history of thromboembolism. Unfortunately, the patient 2 days after discharge referred to the health facility with dyspnea and died. Conclusion: The diagnosis of PE was confirmed by autopsy. 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. Essentials: The evidence on how to manage life-threatening pregnancy-related pulmonary embolism (PE) is scarce.