Characteristics and maternal-fetal outcomes of pregnant women with critical congenital heart disease from a single center in China

Abstract

Objective: To summarize the characteristics of pregnant women with critical congenital heart disease, and to explore continuous, integrated, multidisciplinary management for this segment of population. Methods: The clinical records of pregnant women with severe congenital heart disease with a history of intensive care who were treated in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: (1) A total of 132 cases were included, including 128 pregnant women [gestational age (28.0±8.8) weeks] and 4 puerpera cases (6-32 days postpartum), 63.6% (84/132) from economic underdeveloped rural areas, and 78.0% (103/132) by the municipal hospital, irregular prenatal examination accounted for 59.1% (78/132). The main type of congenital heart disease was shunt lesion (55.3%, 73/132). 90.9% (120/132) with mWHO risk classification stage Ⅳ were assigned to it. The main cardiovascular complication was pulmonary hypertension (64.4%, 85/132). 46.2% (61/132) of the patients had been diagnosed with congenital heart disease before pregnancy, and 70.5% (93/132) of the patients had not received any treatment before pregnancy. (2) All patients received obstetric-led, multidisciplinary care. The rescue success rate was 96.2% (127/132), and no serious obstetric complications occurred. The mortality within 24 hours after discharge was 3.8% (5/132). 16.7% (22/132) underwent cardiac surgery during pregnancy, of which 77.3% (17/22) continued their pregnancy beyond 34 weeks. Totally, the delivery week was (30.5±8.6) weeks, and the main mode was cesarean section (71.2%, 94/132). The average weight of 99 live births (including 1 twin pregnancy) was (2 167±698) g. Preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and congenital malformations were the main fetal comorbidities. Conclusions: Pregnant women with severe congenital heart disease mainly come from areas with underdeveloped economic and medical levels. Later disease intervention, pregnancy retention despite of clear pregnancy contraindications are the distinctive features, which leaded to a significant increase of incidence of maternal and fetal complications, and an increase of the consumption of medical resources. Multidisciplinary active treatment and cardiac surgery during pregnancy could relatively improve maternal and fetal pregnancy outcomes.