Cardio-obstetrics involves clinicians from multiple specialties focused on pregnant patients from preconception through the postpartum period.
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Risk assessment tools can guide conversations about maternal and fetal risks in women with cardiovascular disease who are pregnant or considering pregnancy.
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The cardio-obstetrics team should anticipate potential cardiovascular complications of pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period.
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Postpartum care is an ongoing, integral component of cardio-obstetrical patient management.
Abstract
The specialty of cardio-obstetrics has emerged in response to the rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age with or at risk for CVD should receive appropriate counseling regarding maternal and fetal risks of pregnancy, medical optimization, and contraception advice. A multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics team should ensure appropriate monitoring during pregnancy, plan for labor and delivery, and ensure close follow-up during the postpartum period when CVD complications remain common. The hemodynamic changes throughout pregnancy and during labor and delivery should be considered with respect to the individual cardiac disease of the patient. The fourth trimester refers to the 12 weeks after delivery and is a key time to address contraception, mental health, cardiovascular risk factors, and identify any potential postpartum complications. Women with adverse pregnancy outcomes are at increased risk of long-term CVD and should receive appropriate education and longitudinal follow-up.
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