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Management of Maternal Complex Congenital Heart Disease During Pregnancy

  • Sex and Gender Aspects in Heart Failure (G Figtree and C Arnott, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of the Review

The purpose of this review is to discuss the risk stratification and management of pregnancy in women with complex congenital heart disease.

Recent Findings

Classifying congenital heart defects (CHD) including both anatomy and physiology is important for maternal risk stratification. Although most women with CHD can tolerate the physiological challenge of pregnancy, some may experience serious risks both to their health and that of their foetus. The WHO maternal risk classification model remains the best-validated risk measure. Ideally, women with CHD should have pre-conception assessment with a CHD cardiologist. General principles of management, such as need for expert centre delivery, a multidisciplinary team, epidural and mode of delivery are based on WHO risk in combination with expert assessment of status.

Summary

CHD is increasingly prevalent in women of child-bearing age. Assessment by an adult CHD cardiologist, ideally pre-conception, is key in assessing and minimising risk to mother and foetus.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology Department, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    Katherine Kearney

  2. St Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Katherine Kearney

  3. Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia

    Katherine Kearney

  4. Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

    Dominica Zentner

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Dominica Zentner

  6. Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia

    Rachael Cordina

  7. Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Rachael Cordina

  8. Heart Research Institute, Sydney, Australia

    Rachael Cordina

Authors
  1. Katherine Kearney
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  2. Dominica Zentner
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  3. Rachael Cordina
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachael Cordina.

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Kearney, K., Zentner, D. & Cordina, R. Management of Maternal Complex Congenital Heart Disease During Pregnancy. Curr Heart Fail Rep 18, 353–361 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-021-00534-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-021-00534-x

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