Venous thromboembolic complications in obstetrics and gynecology with a focus on the role of low molecular weight heparin.
Venous thromboembolism is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic expense in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Without prophylaxis, as many as 30% of at-risk patients will suffer deep vein thrombosis, and nearly 1% of these patients will succumb to a fatal pulmonary embolism. Both deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism manifest few specific symptoms, and the presentation of these entities is often clinically silent. Therefore, a prophylactic approach is preferred. We review the pathophysiology, risk factors, prophylactic choices, and treatment of venous thromboembolic complications for the general obstetric and gynecology population. We focus on the role of low molecular weight heparin because of its convenient dosing and favorable risk/benefit profile.