[Pregnancy and labor in women with artificial heart valves]

Pregnancy and delivery were observed in 22 females with artificial heart vales (monovalve prosthetics in 12 and multivalve prosthetics in 10). Nineteen females were rated in the I-II and 3 in the III functional class according the the New York classification of heart association. All the females received indirect-action anticoagulants after the operation and during pregnancy and changed to heparin injections 3-4 weeks before delivery. Thromboembolic complications were encountered in 3 females (in 2 during pregnancy after delivery). No complications associated with the intake of indirect-action anticoagulants were observed in the newborns. Three females died in late periods after childbirth. Despite the good results in the females kept under observation, pregnancy should be avoided by this category of women because of the unsatisfactory properties of the mechanical prostheses, particularly in multivalve prosthetics.