Publication:

Perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with heart disease: Hospital General León experience

Background Pregnancies in patients with heart disease are often complicated. The prevalence in our country is at 0.1 to 4%. An increase in the morbidity and mortality of pregnant patients with heart disease was observed, so it is recommended to evaluate the maternal risk with the WHO Classification. The objective of the study was to determine adverse outcomes; cardiac, obstetric and fetal/neonatal.

Methods We retrospectively studied all pregnancies of women with heart disease that were presented on an outpatient basis in the period of 4 years at the General Hospital of León and maternal, obstetric and fetal/ neonatal outcomes were reviewed.

Results In our study population, no maternal or fetal mortality was observed. Of 16 pregnancies of patients with heart disease were complicated by adverse cardiac events (2 of 16), obstetric (9 of 16), fetal/ neonatal (6 of 16). Hospitalization was required during the pregnancy of 11 patients. WHO class IV was the only group in which there were adverse cardiac events. 12 pregnancies were interrupted abdominally. Low fetal growth curve was observed in 6 of the 16 patients.

Conclusions Pregnancies in patients with heart disease have a high risk of cardiac, obstetric and fetal / neonatal complications. Therefore, preconceptionally counseling and specialized multidisciplinary management should be offered to reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality.