PURPOSE: Advances in maternal-fetal medicine have significantly decreased the incidence of maternal death secondary to eclampsia, hemorrhage, and infection. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is now the leading cause of death in the obstetric population with an incidence of 0.1-0.2%. The diagnosis of VTE in pregnant patients is difficult secondary to changes in maternal physiology and lack of evidence-based diagnostic algorithm. Recent clinical trials have established the utility of D-dimer in low risk medical patients.