EP013 - Pre-pregnancy Advice After Thromboembolism

This podcast episode is based on clinical scenarios from the official AMC Handbook of Clinical Assessment published by the Australian Medical Council. All cases are used solely for study and discussion. We provide personal learning insights and clinical interpretations to support AMC candidates in developing their clinical reasoning skills. The AMC Handbook is the intellectual property of the Australian Medical Council. To access the official material, please visit the AMC website.

Planning a pregnancy after experiencing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE)? This episode offers crucial pre-pregnancy advice. We discuss the case of a 28-year-old woman with a history of DVT and PE. Her risk of repeat thrombosis in her next pregnancy is significantly increased (at least 20%). Learn why anticoagulant therapy is essential throughout pregnancy and for at least 4-6 weeks postpartum. We highlight that low molecular weight heparin is the optimal treatment, as warfarin is generally avoided during pregnancy due to risks. Plus, the importance of clotting tests before conceiving.