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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
14:19
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Pregnancy-associated vascular complications and thoracic aortic growth patterns
Afsheen Nasir1, Christina Waldron1, Prashanth Vallabhajosyula1
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.
JTCVS Structural and Endovascular
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Pregnancy can cause thoracic aortic aneurysm complications, particularly postpartum. While no acute aortic events occurred during pregnancy, careful monitoring is essential for these high-risk pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Obstetrics
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Pregnancy imposes significant hemodynamic stress on the thoracic aorta.
- This stress may increase the risk of aortic growth or acute events in individuals with thoracic aortic disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate vascular outcomes in pregnant patients diagnosed with thoracic aortic disease.
- To understand the relationship between pregnancy and thoracic aortic aneurysm progression.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of electronic health records was conducted for pregnant patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm.
- Data collected included demographics, aortic size, vascular complications, and pregnancy management.
Main Results:
- Twenty-six patients with 92 pregnancies were identified; data from 39 pregnancies (2011-2023) were analyzed.
- Vascular complications occurred in 11.5% of patients, exclusively in those with heritable thoracic aortic disease.
- No type A aortic dissections were observed during pregnancy, though aortic growth patterns varied.
Conclusions:
- Thoracic aortic growth during pregnancy is variable.
- No acute aortic events were observed during pregnancy, but postpartum complications pose a higher risk.
- Management and surveillance protocols for thoracic aortic disease in pregnancy require further standardization.
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