Pregnancy in Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Cardiac disease in pregnancy is a challenging health care problem. The number of cases and their complexity is increasing, such that heart disease is now the leading cause of maternal mortality in developed countries. Numerically, women with congenital heart disease (CHD) make up the majority of cas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current cardiology reports 2013-09, Vol.15 (9), p.401-401, Article 401
Main Authors: Roos-Hesselink, J. W., Ruys, P. T. E., Johnson, M. R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cardiology
Congenital Heart Disease (J Deanfield
Delivery, Obstetric - methods
Female
Heart Defects, Congenital - therapy
Humans
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Perinatal Care - methods
Preconception Care - methods
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular - therapy
Pregnancy Outcome
Prognosis
Risk Factors
Section Editor
Topical Collection on Congenital Heart Disease
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Summary:Cardiac disease in pregnancy is a challenging health care problem. The number of cases and their complexity is increasing, such that heart disease is now the leading cause of maternal mortality in developed countries. Numerically, women with congenital heart disease (CHD) make up the majority of cases and although maternal mortality is infrequent, a good outcome is only achieved though meticulous care, which starts pre-pregnancy and continues for months after the pregnancy has ended. All women with CHD should be assessed and counseled before pregnancy and carefully monitored during pregnancy, the delivery and in the puerperium. In most cases, pregnancy is well tolerated but in some conditions, such as pulmonary hypertension or severe dilatation of the aorta, pregnancy is extremely high risk and should be advised against.
ISSN:1523-3782
1534-3170
DOI:10.1007/s11886-013-0401-3