Pregnancy with congenital heart disease

Abstract

Pregnancy is complicated by maternal cardiovascular disease in 1%-4% of cases. With advances in management of congenital heart diseases (CHDs), the survival to adulthood and childbearing age is increasing all over the world. The physiological adaptation during pregnancy adds to the hemodynamic burden of CHD, and, hence, many women are diagnosed with CHD for the first time during pregnancy, more so in developing countries. The type of underlying CHD and pre-pregnancy hemodynamics determine the risk of developing complications during pregnancy. Hence, pre-pregnancy risk stratification and counseling are a crucial part of management plan. Some of the serious CHDs are best treated in the preconception stage. The maximum chance of developing complications is between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation, during labor, and up to two weeks after delivery. Common complications in women with CHD during pregnancy and labor include heart failure, arrhythmias, bleeding/thrombosis, infective endocarditis, and rarely maternal death. Fetal complications include abortion, stillbirth, prematurity, low birth weight, and CHD. Comprehensive knowledge of these complications and their management is very important as an experienced multidisciplinary team is critical for improving outcome of these patients. Special care is required for pregnant women who have pulmonary hypertension, due to either Eisenmenger syndrome or other causes, severe valve stenosis, aortopathy associated with bicuspid aortic valve/coarctation, or severe cyanotic CHDs. Most women with CHD are at low risk, and successful pregnancy is feasible in the majority with optimal management.