Cardiac disease and pregnancy

Alfredo F. Gei, Gary D.V. Hankins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

The pregnant state imposes a supraphysiologic strain on the pregnant woman's cardiac performance through complex biochemical, electric, and physiologic changes affecting the blood volume, myocardial contractility, and resistance of the vascular bed. In the presence of underlying heart disease, these changes can compromise the woman's hemodynamic balance, her life, and that of her unborn child. Cardiac pathology represents a heterogeneous group of disorders, each with its own hemodynamic, genetic, obstetric, and social implications. Physicians caring for these women should actively address the issue of reproduction. Ideally, pregnancy should be planned to occur after optimization of cardiac performance by medical or surgical means. Once pregnancy is achieved, the concerted effort of a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, nursing, social, and other services provides the best opportunity to carry the pregnancy to a successful outcome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)465-512
Number of pages48
JournalObstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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