Venous thromboembolism (VTE) now accounts for
approximately 10 % of all pregnancy-related deaths in the
United States [
1
]. Berg et al. [
1
] reported 478 pregnancy-
related deaths due to thrombotic pulmonary embolism
between 1999 and 2005. Based on total live births for the
time period [
2
], the maternal mortality ratio for VTE is 1.5
deaths per 100,000 live births. Clark et al. [
3
] concluded
that the most feasible means of reducing the American
pregnancy-related mortality ratio is through nationwide
systematic prevention efforts targeting death due to pul-
monary embolism. Citing this report, the Joint Commission
issued a Sentinel Event Alert on the prevention of maternal
death. They recommended the use of pneumatic compres-
sion devices for patients undergoing cesarean section
delivery and evaluation of patients at high risk for VTE for
low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) postpartum [
4
].
The Joint Commission identified preexisting conditions
such as hypertension, diabetes, and morbid obesity as high
risk conditions. Additionally, the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recently pub-
lished clinical management guidelines on thromboembo-
lism in pregnancy [
5
]. These guidelines target women with
a history of VTE or with acquired or inherited thrombo-
philias as well as all women undergoing cesarean delivery.