Introduction to cardiac disease

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The incidence of heart disease in pregnancy is rising and cardiac disease is now the most common cause of maternal death. Unfortunately, care for pregnant women with heart disease is frequently suboptimal.

This tutorial will help you to learn more about the way in which heart disease can complicate pregnancy, and how to assess and manage pregnant women with cardiac problems.

Learning objectives

When you have completed this tutorial you will be able to:

  • describe the epidemiology of heart disease in pregnancy
  • understand the physiological cardiovascular changes that occur in pregnancy
  • understand the pathophysiology of heart disease in pregnancy
  • describe the clinical characteristics of various congenital and acquired heart diseases in pregnancy
  • outline the management principles used for women with various types of heart disease in pregnancy.

Last updated:19/08/2011 (tutorial was revised and updated by the author)

08/12/09 (tutorial was revised by the author)

03/03/09 (BJOG paper added in the Epidemiology section)

 


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