Venous thromboembolic complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period - causes, risk factors and modern methods of prevention
Pregnancy is a physiological state of a woman, but it does not always proceed favorably. Some complications can worsen the health of the mother and fetus or even lead to death. To prevent such an outcome, doctors recommend that a woman wear anti-embolic stockings. This is necessary to prevent the formation of blood clots in the veins of the legs and blockage of the pulmonary artery by a blood clot.
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Thromboembolic complications are one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, but timely use of anti-embolic hosiery can significantly reduce the risk of blood clots forming and spreading throughout the body.
Why do thromboses and thromboembolisms occur during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, certain changes occur in the body. The capacity of the venous bed and the pressure in the legs increase due to the pressure of the growing uterus on the inferior vena cava, as well as excess body weight. In addition, the coagulation capacity of the blood increases (hypercoagulation develops), this is necessary to prevent bleeding, especially during childbirth and the postpartum period.
These processes can lead to blood stagnation in the lower extremities, slowing down of blood flow and the formation of blood clots. This is how thrombosis occurs - in the superficial or deep veins of the legs. Thrombi can completely block the lumen of the vessel (cause complete blockage) or spread higher with the blood flow.
In severe cases, they enter the pulmonary circulation and lead to pulmonary embolism (PE). This is a severe, potentially fatal disease: when large branches of the pulmonary vessels are blocked, the woman dies very quickly, and medical care is not always effective.
Doctors call deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism by one term – venous thromboembolic complications (VTEC) during pregnancy.
These processes can lead to blood stagnation in the lower extremities, slowing down of blood flow and the formation of blood clots. This is how thrombosis occurs - in the superficial or deep veins of the legs. Thrombi can completely block the lumen of the vessel (cause complete blockage) or spread higher with the blood flow.
In severe cases, they enter the pulmonary circulation and lead to pulmonary embolism (PE). This is a severe, potentially fatal disease: when large branches of the pulmonary vessels are blocked, the woman dies very quickly, and medical care is not always effective.
Doctors call deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism by one term – venous thromboembolic complications (VTEC) during pregnancy.
When is the risk of VTE highest?
enous thromboembolic complications can develop throughout the entire pregnancy period, but most often they occur in the postpartum period (within 6 weeks). Also, the likelihood of VTEC increases with a cesarean section, since surgery always increases blood coagulation (clotting).
Additional risk factors for venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism:
Additional risk factors for venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism:
- prolonged bed rest;
- varicose veins of the lower extremities;
- obesity;
- infectious diseases;
- thrombophilia (a pathology in which blood clotting is increased).
How to prevent venous thromboembolic complications after childbirth?
Prevention of VTEC in pregnant women includes:
Hospital anti-embolic hosiery is special stockings that are used while the woman is in the maternity hospital. They create the necessary pressure on the walls of the veins of the lower extremities and prevent the formation of blood clots.
- use of anticoagulants. These are blood thinning drugs, but they can only be prescribed for strict indications;
- early physical activity of the woman (this is not always possible - for example, after a cesarean section);
- hospital anti-embolic hosiery.
Hospital anti-embolic hosiery is special stockings that are used while the woman is in the maternity hospital. They create the necessary pressure on the walls of the veins of the lower extremities and prevent the formation of blood clots.
Features of hospital anti-embolic stockings
Preventive anti-embolic stockings with a control hole under the toes are made of nylon (70%) and lycra (30%). Their feature is the creation of graduated pressure (18-21 mm Hg), which decreases from the ankle to the thigh.
Due to compression on the walls of the veins and soft tissues of the legs:
Anti-embolic knitwear does not interfere with sweating and does not cause discomfort in women when wearing. The hole under the toes allows the doctor to assess blood circulation and notice dangerous changes in time.
Due to compression on the walls of the veins and soft tissues of the legs:
- the lumen of the vessels narrows;
- the blood is pushed out more intensively in the direction of the heart;
- the work of the venous valves is restored.
Anti-embolic knitwear does not interfere with sweating and does not cause discomfort in women when wearing. The hole under the toes allows the doctor to assess blood circulation and notice dangerous changes in time.
Lauma Medical hospital anti-embolism stockings with a control hole under the toes are an effective, comfortable and safe method for preventing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in women during pregnancy and in the postpartum period
Lauma Medical hospital anti-embolism stockings with a control hole under the toes are an effective, comfortable and safe method for preventing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in women during pregnancy and in the postpartum period