Managing cardiovascular disease in pregnant people: Defining the pregnancy heart team

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Cardiovascular Disease in Pregnancy

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death and illness in pregnant patients.
• Many complications are preventable with early detection and proper management.
• Multidisciplinary care is essential for improving outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the practical aspects of pregnancy heart team management for cardiovascular disease in pregnant individuals.
• To highlight the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in optimizing patient care.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of the establishment and composition of pregnancy heart teams.
• Review of the practical approach to managing pregnant patients with cardiovascular disease.
• Emphasis on the roles of core and additional specialists.

Main Results:

• Pregnancy heart teams enable comprehensive, multidisciplinary planning.
• Core team members include obstetricians, midwives, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, and care coordinators.
• Specialists are added based on individual patient needs, ensuring tailored care.

Conclusions:

• Pregnancy heart teams are crucial for improving the management of pregnant individuals with cardiovascular disease.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration enhances the recognition of warning signs and management strategies.
• This approach aims to reduce preventable cardiac morbidity and mortality in pregnancy.