Pregnancy outcome and mitral valve prolapse

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Obstetrics
• Perinatology

Background:

• Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common cardiac condition affecting approximately 4% of the general population.
• MVP represents a significant portion of cardiac issues encountered in obstetric care.
• Understanding the obstetric implications of MVP is crucial for managing pregnant patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the obstetric outcomes of pregnant patients diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse.
• To assess the safety and well-being of both mother and fetus in MVP cases.
• To identify any specific risks or complications associated with MVP during pregnancy and delivery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of delivery records at the National University Hospital, Singapore, between 1988-1991.
• Identification of patients with maternal cardiac disease and specifically non-myxomatous MVP.
• Comparison of obstetric parameters between MVP patients and the general obstetric population.

Main Results:

• Out of 16,755 deliveries, 85 had maternal cardiac disease, with 28 diagnosed with non-myxomatous MVP.
• No significant adverse maternal or fetal outcomes were observed during pregnancy.
• While labor induction rates were higher (17.9%), most patients had vaginal deliveries (85.7%), and all infants were liveborn.

Conclusions:

• Pregnant patients with non-myxomatous mitral valve prolapse generally experience excellent obstetric outcomes.
• MVP without myxomatous changes does not appear to pose significant risks to pregnancy.
• Further discussion is warranted regarding the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in this patient group.