Key result
Pregnancy was associated with an increase in pulmonary flow from 4.88 to 7.19 L/min and a decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance from 2.85 to 2.17 resistance units at 8 weeks gestation.
Why the study?
How do pulmonary haemodynamics change during human pregnancy?
Observational (n=13)
How do pulmonary haemodynamics change during human pregnancy?
Absolute Event Rate: 2.17% vs 2.85%
Non-invasive Doppler echocardiography demonstrates that pregnancy induces an early decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance and an increase in pulmonary flow without significantly altering mean pulmonary artery pressure.
Supports echo interpretation of pulmonary pressures in early pregnancy; leaves open effects on outcomes in women with pulmonary vascular disease.
Serial pulmonary haemodynamic investigations were performed in 13 women before conception, at monthly intervals throughout pregnancy, and then at 6 months after delivery. 2. Mean pulmonary artery pressure was calculated from pulsed Doppler pulmonary velocities. Pulmonary flow was measured by Doppler and cross-sectional echocardiography. These two measurements were used to calculate pulmonary vascular resistance. 3. Mean non-pregnant pulmonary artery pressure was 13.8 mmHg and no significant change was demonstrated during pregnancy. 4. Pulmonary flow increased from 4.88 to 7.19 litres/min during pregnancy. 5. Pulmonary vascular resistance decreased from 2.85 resistance units before pregnancy to 2.17 resistance units at 8 weeks gestation. Thereafter there was no further significant change, values returning to pre-pregnant levels by 6 months after delivery.
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Robson et al. (1991) conducted an observational in Pregnancy (n=13). Pregnancy vs. Pre-pregnancy state was evaluated on Pulmonary vascular resistance (resistance units). Pregnancy was associated with an increase in pulmonary flow from 4.88 to 7.19 L/min and a decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance from 2.85 to 2.17 resistance units at 8 weeks gestation.
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