Abstract
AbstractWith improved outcomes of valvular heart diseases and prosthetic valves, many women now survive into child-bearing age and pregnancy. However, the presence of prosthetic valves in pregnancy has an adverse impact on both maternal and fetal outcomes. The bioprosthetic or tissue valves are less thrombogenic. They do not need any anticoagulation and lead to normal pregnancy with normal baseline valve function. However, they have high rate of structural degeneration, especially in the young with an attendant need of reoperation leading to morbidity. Mechanical valves have excellent hemodynamics during pregnancy but are inherently thrombogenic leading to thromboembolic complications, necessitating uninterrupted anticoagulation. Anticoagulation itself leads to a host of maternal and fetal bleeding complication as well as adverse fetal anomalies. The use of low-dose warfarin throughout pregnancy has the best maternal safety profile. Added to this regimen, targeted replacement with parenteral heparin during the first (6–12 weeks) and late third trimesters (beyond 36 weeks) leads to virtual elimination of embryopathy as well as appreciable reductions of maternal mortality. Proper preconception counseling and antenatal care coupled with planned labor or delivery is essential to ensure best outcomes. These patients are best managed in a tertiary care center with proper expertise in managing adverse cardiovascular, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Indian Journal of Cardiovascular Disease in Women WINCARS
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.