Cardiovascular Disturbances in the Obstetric Patient

The relative infrequency of the problems of heart disease in the individual practitioner's obstetric experience has led to a somewhat passive attitude on the part of too many physicians toward the subject. It must be admitted that most of the larger series of gravidocardiac patients reported have come from institutions into which for the most part only complicated cases are admitted. Those working in such institutions are perhaps prone to acquire an exaggerated idea of the importance of the subject. Nevertheless, on the facts gleaned from these extensive studies are formulated the rules to be relied on for guidance in the rational scientific management of the isolated case. Pregnancy in a patient with heart disease has long been recognized as a seriously complicated situation. Jardine1was impressed by the disastrous results accompanying the induction of labor in the gravidocardiac patient. Williamson2reported similar conclusions as to the exceedingly