The Green Room: A Podcast from Obstetrics & Gynecology March 2025: Obstetrics
Feb 20, 2025
Dr. Anne Bruno, an Assistant Professor in Maternal Fetal Medicine at the University of Utah, dives deep into the risks of venous thromboembolism (VTE) for pregnant and postpartum patients. She discusses the urgent need for effective prevention measures to reduce maternal mortality. Insights from her research highlight the mixed results of pharmacologic prophylaxis following delivery, stressing its minimal impact and potential risks. Bruno emphasizes the importance of tailored approaches and calls for comprehensive future studies in thromboprophylaxis.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
No Clear VTE Reduction With Heparin
- Postpartum heparin-based prophylaxis did not show a reduction in VTE in this multi-center cohort.
- The finding highlights persistent uncertainty about efficacy of routine pharmacologic prophylaxis after delivery.
Research Motivation From Maternal Mortality
- Anne Bruno described her long-standing interest in pregnancy-associated thrombotic risk and prevention.
- She emphasized VTE still causes about one in ten maternal deaths in the U.S.
Wide Variation Across Hospitals
- Practices varied widely across four U.S. hospitals, from almost no use to frequent use of heparin prophylaxis.
- The study intentionally sampled diverse sites to reflect real-world variation in prophylaxis practices.