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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound (30/45MHZ) System
Published on: May 5, 2018
[Cardiovascular disease and pregnancy]
L Redondo1, L Martins, R Rodrigues
1Serviço de Obstetrícia, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada.
Insights
Pregnancy poses risks for women with heart conditions like mechanical valves or congenital heart disease. Careful management during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum is crucial for maternal and fetal health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Obstetrics
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading non-obstetric cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.
- Pregnancy significantly increases hemodynamic stress, potentially worsening pre-existing or unmasking underlying cardiac conditions.
Observation:
- Presents three cases of pregnant women with complex cardiac conditions: mechanical prosthetic valve, cyanotic congenital heart disease, and intracardiac shunt.
- Highlights the challenges in managing these high-risk pregnancies.
Findings:
- Pregnancy, labor, and delivery impose a substantial hemodynamic burden.
- These conditions can lead to symptom exacerbation and serious complications.
Implications:
- Optimal antenatal, labor, and postpartum obstetric management for these patients remains a critical area of discussion.
- Emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary care in managing pregnant women with severe heart disease.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease is the most important non-obstetric cause of disability and death in pregnant women, occurring in 1% of pregnancies. The added hemodynamic burden of pregnancy, labor and delivery can aggravate symptoms and precipitate complications in women with pre-existent cardiac disease. Additionally, it can reveal an underlying unknown pathology. The authors present three cases of pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic valve, cyanotic congenital heart disease and intracardiac shunt. Antenatal, labor and postpartum obstetric management is subject of debate.
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