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Evaluation and Management of Maternal Congenital Heart Disease: A Review
Maeve K Hopkins1, Sarah A Goldstein2, Cary C Ward3
1Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Insights
Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) can often have successful pregnancies with appropriate care. Understanding cardiac physiology and coordinating specialists are key for managing CHD during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common major congenital anomalies.
- Advances in treatment allow more women with CHD to reach childbearing age.
Purpose of the Study:
- Define common forms of CHD in pregnancy.
- Outline preconception counseling.
- Review management recommendations for CHD in pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- MEDLINE search conducted for "congenital heart disease in pregnancy" and specific conditions.
- Included terms: ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, outflow obstructions, tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great vessels.
Main Results:
- Review incorporated 18 retrospective studies, 8 meta-analyses/systematic reviews/expert opinions, 5 case reports, 2 prospective studies, and 2 clinical texts.
- Identified specific CHD conditions with significant maternal risks, where pregnancy may be contraindicated.
Conclusions:
- Many women with CHD can achieve successful pregnancies.
- Requires understanding of pregnancy-related cardiac physiology.
- Emphasizes coordinated care between cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine specialists.
Objective:
Congenital heart defects represent the most common major congenital anomalies. The objective of this review was to define the most common forms of congenital heart disease (CHD) in pregnancy, outline preconception counseling, discuss the associated morbidity and mortality of each lesion, and review current recommendations for management of CHD in pregnancy.
Evidence Acquisition:
A MEDLINE search of "congenital heart disease in pregnancy" and specific conditions in pregnancy including "ventricular septal defect," "atrial septal defect," "left outflow obstruction," "right outflow obstruction," "tetralogy of Fallot," and "transposition of the great vessels" was performed.
Results:
The evidence included in the review contains 18 retrospective studies, 8 meta-analyses or systematic reviews or expert opinions, 5 case reports including surgical case reports, 2 prospective studies, and 2 clinical texts.
Conclusions:
Given advances in surgical and medical management, women with a history of congenital cardiac defects are more frequently reaching childbearing age and requiring obstetric care. Many women with CHD can have successful pregnancies, although there are a few conditions that confer significant maternal risk, and pregnancy may even be contraindicated. Appropriate care for women with CHD requires a knowledge of cardiac physiology in pregnancy, the common lesions of CHD, and coordinated care from cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine specialists.
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