Pulmonary Embolism in Post-CoviD-19 Patients, a Literature Review: Red Flag for Increased Awareness?

Although COVID-19 was primarily considered a respiratory illness, rapidly accumulating data suggest that COVID-19 is associated with a high incidence of venous thromboembolic complications. The primary objective of this review article was to reveal whether we need to increase awareness of pulmonary embolism in the period following the COVID-19 infection given that the epidemiologic facts are still poor. A literature search and a critical review of the collected studies were conducted. An electronic search of PubMed, Science Direct Scopus, Google Scholar, and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) from June 2020 until June 2022. The long-term health consequences of COVID-19 remain largely unclear. This review highlights the importance of awareness of the potentially increased incidence of venous thromboembolism in post-COVID-19 patients, even those with mild or asymptomatic disease. Further research is required to establish appropriate clinical management guidelines for the prevention of thromboembolic complications in the post-COVID-19 period.