Management of Cardiovascular Disease During Pregnancy

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of maternal death. The normal cardiovascular hemodynamic adaptations to pregnancy are remarkable, but tolerated without difficulty in the majority of women. However, in women with cardiovascular dysfunction, these adaptations may precipitate cardiovascular decompensation. Risk stratification of pregnancy risk should preferably take place before conception. Management of these women requires multidisciplinary involvement of all key areas, including cardiology, nursing, maternal/fetal medicine and obstetric anesthesia. For higher-risk lesions, pregnancy should be managed in centers with expertise in this field.