Pregnancy and valvular heart disease

Heart disease can affect anyone at any time, and pregnant women are not exceptions. Some type of cardiac pathologic disease can be seen in 1% to 2% of all pregnant women. Because of the high fetal mortality rate and the high relative rate of maternal mortality in surgery, medical management is the first line of treatment. Nevertheless, when medical treatment fails, cardiac surgery may be necessary. Here we present such a case of cardiac valvular disease complicated by pregnancy. Current decision-making, treatment, and trends are reviewed.