Essentials Debated is the role of residual pulmonary obstruction (RPO) in predicting venous thromboembolism. Whether right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) predicts recurrent venous thromboembolism is unknown. 15 studies on RPO and 4 on RVD and venous thromboembolism were included in this meta‐analysis. RPO is a predictor of recurrent venous thromboembolism when assessed by perfusion lung scan. RVD after acute pulmonary embolism is not associated with recurrent venous thromboembolism. Background There is conflicting evidence regarding the role of residual pulmonary obstruction (RPO) or persistent right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) after pulmonary embolism (PE) as a predictor of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of this study was to assess whether RPO or persistent RVD after PE is associated with recurrent VTE. Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through December 2018. Studies reporting on (a) RPO either on computed tomography (CT) angiography or perfusion lung scan, or RVD on echocardiography or CT angiography, after therapeutic anticoagulation for the acute PE, and (b) recurrent VTE, were included in this meta‐analysis. Results RPO was associated with an increased risk of recurrent VTE (16 studies; 3472 patients; odds ratio OR 2.22; 95% confidence interval CI 1.61‐3.05; I2 = 26%); the association was statistically significant for lung scan–detected RPO (11 studies; 2916 patients; OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.63‐3.01) but not for CT angiography–detected RPO (five studies; 556 patients; OR 2.56; 95% CI 0.82‐7.94). No significant association was found between persistent RVD and recurrent VTE (four studies; 852 patients; OR 1.62; 95% CI 0.63‐4.17). Conclusions RPO is a predictor of recurrent VTE after a first acute PE, mainly when assessed by perfusion lung scan.