Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026

A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn
Published on: April 7, 2023
A Case of Breathlessness during Pregnancy: The Difficulty in Diagnosing Heart Failure
Timothy A C Snow1, Cara A Wasywich1, Fiona M Stewart2
1Green Lane Cardiovascular Service, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract:
We present the case of a 33-year-old woman in her second pregnancy who was transferred to our unit following a one-month history of worsening fatigue and a three-day history of worsening symptoms of heart failure. Shortly after presentation she developed ventricular fibrillation and arrested. At an emergency caesarean section a placental abruption was noted and the baby was stillborn, unable to be resuscitated. The patient required a prolonged intensive and coronary care stay. Echocardiographic findings were consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy and as all investigations to ascertain a cause were negative she was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Her case highlights a potential fatal cause of breathlessness during pregnancy and the role of B-type natriuretic peptide to assist in the differential diagnosis of these cases.
Related Concept Videos
Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration...

