Cardiac disease in pregnancy--maternal and perinatal outcome

To assess the maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnant women with cardiac disease, a prospective study was carried out among 51 pregnant women with cardiac disease between January 2006 and August 2008 at a tertiary care centre at BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Rheumatic cardiac disease (68.62%) with mitral valve involvement (88.57%) was the commonest cardiac disease. In congenital cardiac disease (21.57%) group septal defect was found as the predominant form. Cardiac surgeries were performed in 11 women before pregnancy out of which 7 had balloon valvotomies, 3 had valve replacements and one had corrective tetrology of Fallot surgery. Two valvotomies were safely done during pregnancy. Out of 51 total patients, two women had opted for termination and two were lost to follow-up. Cardiac complications developed in 17.02% of the women, most common being congestive cardiac failure. It was found more in New York Heart Association grades III and IV (p = 0.00001). A total of 68.08% women delivered vaginally and 31.91% delivered by caesarean section. Complication rate was high (33.33%) in caesarean section group (p = 0.05). Maternal and perinatal outcome was good in general with no maternal death and three perinatal deaths. There were more preterm babies (27.7%; p = 0.03) and babies with intra-uterine growth restriction (48.9%; p = 0.65). None of the newborns of the women who had received anticoagulants had any congenital malformation. Rheumatic heart disease still constitutes the major type of heart disease in our country. Maternal and perinatal morbidity increases with increase in New York Heart Association grade. Surgically treated women tolerate pregnancy well. Vaginal delivery is safer and caesarean section should be reserved only for obstetric indications. Maternal and perinatal outcome can be improved by team approach at tertiary care centre.