Key result
Management of atrial fibrillation in pregnancy should mirror that in non-pregnant women but requires faster intervention and cautious medication use, with synchronized electrical cardioversion being safe at all stages.
Why the study?
How should atrial fibrillation be managed in pregnant women?
How should atrial fibrillation be managed in pregnant women?
Atrial fibrillation in pregnancy requires prompt management similar to non-pregnant patients, with careful medication selection and safe use of synchronized electrical cardioversion if needed.
Requires faster AF intervention in pregnancy with cautious drugs and safe cardioversion; leaves open need for dedicated RCTs.
Pregnancy is accompanied by a variety of cardiovascular changes in normal women; all of these changes are thought to promote arrhythmogenesis. Atrial fibrillation is unusual during pregnancy and it can represent a benign, self-limited lone atrial fibrillation or can be hemodynamically significant in parturient with or without structural heart disease. Management of atrial fibrillation should be the same as in non-pregnant women, but requires faster intervention, even in patients with a normal heart function, and cautious use of medication to avoid harm to the fetus. We might remember that synchronized electrical cardioversion has been performed safely during all stages of pregnancy.
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Cacciotti et al. (2010) conducted a review in Atrial Fibrillation in Pregnancy. Management strategies (rate control, cardioversion, anticoagulation) was evaluated. Management of atrial fibrillation in pregnancy should mirror that in non-pregnant women but requires faster intervention and cautious medication use, with synchronized electrical cardioversion being safe at all stages.
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