Eisenmenger's syndrome and the pregnant patient

The presence of Eisenmenger's syndrome places the pregnant patient at high risk for maternal and neonatal mortality. Since patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome generally survive until the fourth decade, some patients with this disease process will become pregnant. A discussion of cardiovascular changes that occur during pregnancy is presented with a description of the manifestations of Eisenmenger's syndrome. The literature on Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy is reviewed and a therapeutic approach to the management of the pregnant patient with this disease is presented.