Cardiac Lesions in the Critical Care Setting

The long-held belief that pregnancy is absolutely contraindicated in maternal cardiovascular disease is no longer justifiable using evidence-base medicine. There are some conditions in which pregnancy is contraindicated, and high maternal risk and poor fetal outcome can be predicted. However, in many women with heart disease, a more favorable maternal and fetal outcome is expected. This article focusses on the cardiac conditions that require more attention and have the potential to require observation in the intensive care unit setting.