Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cardiac disease in pregnancy catheterization
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Hemodynamic monitoring via pulmonary artery catheterization can be of great help in managing high-risk patients during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period. If possible, the pulmonary artery line should be placed without fluoroscopic guidance. Insertion is recommended throughout labor and delivery for any patient with symptomatic cardiac disease during pregnancy or with the potential for deterioration due to valvular heart disease, myocardial, or ischemic heart disease. Hemodynamic monitoring should be continued for at least several hours after delivery to ensure stability.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S. [2]