Peripartum cardiomyopathy--a case report

Peripartum cardiomyopathy in the form of congestive heart disease of unknown etiology appears relatively rarely during the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months after delivery, and it is potentially life-threatening. This case report describes a 34-year-old female, G4P1, at 36 weeks' gestation who was admitted for cesarean section under lumbar epidural anesthesia due to twin pregnancy. She had no past history of cardiovascular diseases. However, rapid onset of dyspnea at ward and acute cardiac failure developed 15 h after cesarean section. Peripartum cardiomyopathy was diagnosed. After a 7-day intensive treatment she was discharged. Since then she was symptom-free and her two babies were doing well during a period of one more years after discharge.