Managing cardiovascular disease in pregnant people: Defining the pregnancy heart team

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for pregnant patients. A significant portion of cardiac morbidity and mortality is preventable and related to poor or delayed recognition of clinical warning signs and oversights in management. The establishment of pregnancy heart teams facilitates multidisciplinary planning to improve management of people with cardiovascular disease. Core members of the pregnancy heart team include obstetricians, midwives, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, and patient care coordinators. Additional specialists and subspecialists are included on pregnancy heart teams based on individual patient needs. This review discusses the practical aspects of the pregnancy heart team's approach to caring for pregnant people with cardiovascular disease.