Cardiac disease in pregnancy electrocardiogram

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

The common electrocardiographic findings that occur secondary to physiological changes during pregnancy include: tachycardia, short PR interval and left axis deviation.

Physiologic hyperdynamic circulation may cause tachycardia with accompanied shortened PR interval.

Left axis deviation attributed to horizontal position of the heart resulting from progressive uterine enlargement.^[1]

Non-specific transient ST segment depression, T wave flattening and presence of Q wave may be observed in a small percentage of pregnant patients. However, these changes resolve without further complications following delivery.^[2]^[3]

Holter monitoring is advised for high-risk pregnant women with atrial fibrillation or other documented arrhythmic disorder.

↑ Schwartz DB, Schamroth L (1979). “The effect of pregnancy on the frontal plane QRS axis”. Journal of Electrocardiology. 12 (3): 279–81. PMID 469442. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Boyle DM, Lloyd-Jones RL (1966). “The electrocardiographic ST segment in pregnancy”. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth. 73 (6): 986–7. PMID 5927791. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ ORAM S, HOLT M (1961). “Innocent depression of the S-T segment and flattening of the T-wave during pregnancy”. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire. 68: 765–70. PMID 14482159. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)