Management of high risk cardiac conditions in pregnancy: Anticoagulation, severe stenotic valvular disease and cardiomyopathy

Cardiovascular disease contributes to approximately one third of all maternal mortality and remains a significant source of peri- and postpartum morbidity. As more women at risk for and with cardiovascular disease are desiring pregnancy, it is imperative that general cardiologists and obstetricians participate collaboratively in preconception counseling and are more facile with management of these lesions during peri- and postpartum periods. This review aims to address this growing need and highlights the management strategies for some of the major high risk cardiac conditions encountered during pregnancy including anticoagulation, cardiomyopathies as well as severe mitral and aortic stenosis; aortopathy, pulmonary hypertension, and severe congenital heart lesions will not be addressed. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.