Heart Disease in Pregnancy

Pregnancy makes profound changes in the cardiovascular system that have the potential to adversely affect maternal and fetal health, especially in the presence of underlying heart conditions. Valvular heart disease in pregnancy is relatively infrequent, and tends to have a favorable prognosis if the risks are appropriately managed. Patients with congenital heart disease were traditionally advised against pregnancy; however, as our understanding of the unique issues facing this population has improved, many of those limitations have been removed. The presence of cardiovascular disease in pregnant women poses a difficult clinical scenario in which the responsibility of the treating physician extends to the unborn fetus. Therefore, women with cardiovascular compromise due to cardiac disease need specialist input and careful pre-, peri-, and post-partum follow-up. I hope that this book will provide a comprehensive review of heart disease in pregnancy along with its complications and management, and that you will be able to apply this information to your professional practice.