Maternal and Perinatal Outcome in Women with Congenital Heart Disease: An Observational Study

Untreated and residual congenital heart disease in a pregnant woman is concerning for both the mother and the baby. Early diagnosis and management are imperative to ensure survival of both mother and the baby. The aim was to study the maternal and perinatal outcomes in women with congenital heart disease.

An observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital over a three-year period from April 2020 to March 2023. The data was collected retrospectively after ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee [Reference number: 373/ (6-11) E2/076/077]. Total sampling was done where all women with congenital heart disease who delivered in the hospital after twenty-eight weeks of gestation during the study period were enrolled. Data were collected from the record book of labour room, patient files, and labour room, along with mortality audits of the department. Maternal and fetal outcomes were recorded, and descriptive analyses were done.

Seventy-three women with congenital heart disease delivered in our center during the study period. The average age of the women was 26.51+ 5.50 years. Among them, 39 (53.4%) of the patients had uncorrected heart conditions. Atrial septal defect was present in 20 (27.39%) pregnant patients. There were 69 (94.52%) live births and four (5.47%) intrauterine foetal deaths. One (1.36%) newborn was diagnosed to have an ostium secundum atrial septal defect, and two (2.73%) newborns were diagnosed to have patent foramen ovale.

The maternal and perinatal outcomes in women with treated congenital heart disease are favourable, whereas the maternal mortality remains high in women with Eisenmenger Syndrome.