A change of heart: case series: peripartum cardiomyopathy

Sc Martin,Cm Wong,D Mclellan

doi:10.1136/fetalneonatal-2012-301809.191

Abstract

IntroductionCardiac disease is the leading cause of maternal death in the United Kingdom. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) accounts for about 17% of these deaths.We present a series of five women who...

Highlights

Cardiac disease is the leading cause of maternal death in the UK [1]
We present a series of four women who presented with PPCM in our centre, of which two died
Chest X-ray showed pulmonary oedema. Her rapid deterioration led to her transfer to the National Heart Failure Unit, where she had a short-term biventricular assist device (BiVAD, Figure 2) implanted

Summary

Introduction

Cardiac disease is the leading cause of maternal death in the UK [1]. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic cardiomyopathy that presents in the puerperium as heart failure secondary to left ventricular systolic dysfunction in the absence of another cause of heart failure [2]. The incidence of PPCM is around 1 in 2000 live births [3] and accounts for about 17% of the deaths secondary to cardiac disease in the UK [1]. We present a series of four women who presented with PPCM in our centre, of which two died. Their clinical presentations were variable and, so, represented an important diagnostic challenge

Case Presentation

Discussion

Novel Approaches

Conclusion

Findings

Conflict of Interests