Cardiac disease in pregnancy history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S. [3]

A history should be taken to assure that the patient does not have a condition that would place them at high risk during the pregnancy such as Marfan’s syndrome, Eisenmenger’s syndrome, a prior history of peripartum cardiomyopathy or pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Major causes for pregnancy-related mortality include: hypertensive heart disease, congenital heart disease, marfan’s syndrome and cardiomyopathy which can be distinguished by taking a careful personal and family history.

Common symptoms present during pregnancy include: fatigue, decreased exercise capacity, hyperventilation, dyspnea, tachycardia and palpitations.

Secondary to inferior vena caval compression by the gravid uterus resulting in reduced venous return from the lower extremities, patients may even experience orthostatic lightheadedness and syncope.

Pedal edema is often observed during the last trimester and may lead to an erroneous diagnosis of heart failure.

Template:WikiDoc Sources CME Category::Cardiology