Pregnancy in Women with Cardiovascular Diseases

Patients with cardiovascular disease represent a significant cohort at risk for complications during pregnancy. The normal physiologic changes of pregnancy could further compromise the hemodynamics of various cardiovascular conditions, resulting in clinical deterioration and even death. The fetus of a gravida with cardiovascular disease also has an increased risk of morbidity, including an increased risk of inherited cardiac genetic disorders, fetal growth restriction, and premature delivery. These complications also increase the risk for antenatal and perinatal mortality. Ideally, the management of a patient with cardiac disease who is considering pregnancy should start with pre-conception counseling that outlines the maternal and fetal complications associated with her particular cardiac disorder. The pregnancy is best managed by a dedicated team of specialists in maternal-fetal medicine, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, anesthesiology, and neonatology, preferably in a tertiary care center.