The maternal mortality rates in the United States (US) remain the highest among developed countries, and continue to rise (1). Cardiovascular diseases are the leading etiology of maternal deaths in developed countries (2), and account for more than a third of pregnancy-related deaths. Most importantly many are preventable (3). Venous thromboembolism (VTE), (i.e., deep venous thrombosis [DVT] and/or pulmonary embolism [PE]), is one of the leading cardiovascular etiologies of maternal morbidity and mortality (3), accounting for ∼9% of pregnancy-related deaths (4).
