RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is an important cause of maternal mortality. There are several guidelines for its diagnosis and management, but there is little information regarding follow-up and frequency of long-term complications. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of long-term cardiovascular symptoms in patients who had obstetric PE. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including patients who had PE during pregnancy or the puerperium. A telephone interview was conducted at least one year after PE, to determine the frequency of cardiovascular symptoms, general health, and COVID-19 infection, considering the study was conducted during the 2020 pandemic. RESULTS: In five years (2015-2019) there were eleven patients with PE, two died during the acute phase, and the rest (nine) were alive and able to answer our interview. Cardiovascular symptoms were common (6, 67â¯%), the most frequent were fatigue, edema, and mild dyspnea. Four patients (44â¯%) had slight limitation of physical activity and one (11â¯%) had PE recurrence. Of the six symptomatic patients four had obesity and one was overweight. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high frequency of long-term cardiovascular symptoms in patients who had PE during pregnancy or the puerperium. Stronger evidence is needed to design a long-term care pathway after obstetric PE.