Key result
Multidisciplinary care enables successful vaginal delivery and favorable outcomes in Eisenmenger syndrome with DORV.
Why the study?
Pregnancy in women with Eisenmenger syndrome and double outlet right ventricle is associated with extremely high maternal and fetal mortality, requiring multidisciplinary management.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Demonstrates that with meticulous multidisciplinary care, successful vaginal delivery is possible in highly selected, clinically stable pregnant patients with Eisenmenger syndrome and double outlet right ventricle.
Supports vaginal delivery in highly selected stable Eisenmenger cases with multidisciplinary care; leaves open need for prospective data before wider adoption.
Background: Eisenmenger syndrome (ES), a severe complication of uncorrected congenital heart defects, is characterized by pulmonary hypertension and right-to-left intracardiac shunting resulting in systemic hypoxemia. Double outlet right ventricle (DORV), a rare congenital anomaly where both great arteries arise predominantly from the right ventricle, further exacerbates hemodynamic instability. Pregnancy in women with ES and DORV is associated with extremely high maternal and fetal mortality rates, requiring meticulous, multidisciplinary management. Case Presentation: A 20-year-old Gravida 1 Para 0 woman at 34 weeks gestation presented with progressive dyspnea, cyanosis, and generalized edema. She had a single antenatal visit with no cardiovascular evaluation. Examination revealed finger clubbing, elevated jugular venous pressure, pitting edema, bibasilar lung crackles, and a systolic murmur. Vital signs were notable for heart rate 130 bpm, BP 110/70 mmHg, RR 25/min, and SpO₂ 80% on supplemental oxygen. Laboratory tests showed anemia and elevated CRP without fever. Imaging and echocardiography revealed a large ventricular and atrial septal defect with bidirectional shunt, severe tricuspid regurgitation, and estimated pulmonary artery pressure of 85 mmHg. DORV was suggested with the aorta arising from the right ventricle. A multidisciplinary team opted for vaginal delivery. Labor was induced with misoprostol (Bishop score 5) under continuous maternal monitoring. The patient delivered vaginally after 4 h. The newborn weighed 2.7 kg, with Apgar scores of 5 and 7 at 1 and 5 min, respectively. Postpartum, the mother received diuretics, blood transfusions, and antibiotics for elevated CRP. She stabilized by day seven and was transferred to cardiology for ongoing management. Discussion: This case highlights the challenges of managing pregnancy in women with ES and complex congenital heart defects like DORV. The successful vaginal delivery emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, individualized treatment plans, and comprehensive monitoring to minimize risks. This case also demonstrates that vaginal delivery can be a viable option in selected patients when meticulously managed. Conclusion: Careful planning and multidisciplinary care can lead to favorable outcomes in pregnancies complicated by ES and DORV, despite their significant risks.
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Dahir et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Eisenmenger syndrome and double outlet right ventricle in pregnancy (n=1). Vaginal delivery under multidisciplinary management was evaluated on Maternal and neonatal outcome. Multidisciplinary management enabled a successful vaginal delivery with favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes in a patient with Eisenmenger syndrome and double outlet right ventricle.
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