Table 1. Classes of recommendation

Table 2. Levels of evidence

Table 3. Estimated fetal and maternal effective doses for various diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures

Table 4. Predictors of maternal cardiovascular events and risk score from the CARPREG study

Table 5. Predictors of maternal cardiovascular events identified in congential heart diseases in the ZAHARA and Khairy study

Table 6. Modified WHO classification of maternal cardiovascular risk: principles

Table 7. Modified WHO classification of maternal cardiovascular risk: application

Table 8. Maternal predictors of neonatal events in women with heart disease

Table 9. General recommendations

Table 10. Recommendations for the management of congenital heart disease

Table 11. Recommendations for the management of aortic disease

Table 12. Recommendations for the management of valvular heart disease

Table 13. Recommendations for the management of coronary artery disease

Table 14. Recommendations for the management of cardiomyopathies and heart failure

Table 15. Recommendations for the management of arrhythmias

Table 16. Recommendations for the management of hypertension

Table 17. Check list for risk factors for venous thrombo-embolism

Table 18. Prevalence of congenital thrombophilia and the associated risk of venous thrombo-embolism during pregnancy

Table 19. Risk groups according to risk factors: definition and preventive measures

Table 20. Recommendations for the prevention and management of venous thrombo-embolism in pregnancy and puerperium

Table 21. Recommendations for drug use

ABPM
: ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
ACC
: American College of Cardiology
ACE
: angiotensin-converting enzyme
ACS
: acute coronary syndrome
AF
: atrial fibrillation
AHA
: American Heart Association
aPTT
: activated partial thromboplastin time
ARB
: angiotensin receptor blocker
AS
: aortic stenosis
ASD
: atrial septal defect
AV
: atrioventricular
AVSD
: atrioventricular septal defect
BMI
: body mass index
BNP
: B-type natriuretic peptide
BP
: blood pressure
CDC
: Centers for Disease Control
CHADS
: congestive heart failure, hypertension, age (>75 years), diabetes, stroke
CI
: confidence interval
CO
: cardiac output
CoA
: coarction of the aorta
CT
: computed tomography
CVD
: cardiovascular disease
DBP
: diastolic blood pressure
DCM
: dilated cardiomyopathy
DVT
: deep venous thrombosis
ECG
: electrocardiogram
EF
: ejection fraction
ESC
: European Society of Cardiology
ESH
: European Society of Hypertension
ESICM
: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine
FDA
: Food and Drug Administration
HCM
: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
ICD
: implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
INR
: international normalized ratio
i.v.
: intravenous
LMWH
: low molecular weight heparin
LV
: left ventricular
LVEF
: left ventricular ejection fraction
LVOTO
: left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
MRI
: magnetic resonance imaging
MS
: mitral stenosis
NT-proBNP
: N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide
NYHA
: New York Heart Association
OAC
: oral anticoagulant
PAH
: pulmonary arterial hypertension
PAP
: pulmonary artery pressure
PCI
: percutaneous coronary intervention
PPCM
: peripartum cardiomyopathy
PS
: pulmonary valve stenosis
RV
: right ventricular
SBP
: systolic blood pressure
SVT
: supraventricular tachycardia
TGA
: complete transposition of the great arteries
TR
: tricuspid regurgitation
UFH
: unfractionated heparin
VSD
: ventricular septal defect
VT
: ventricular tachycardia
VTE
: venous thrombo-embolism
WHO
: World Health Organization

Guidelines summarize and evaluate all available evidence, at the time of the writing process, on a particular issue with the aim of assisting physicians in selecting the best management strategies for an individual patient, with a given condition, taking into account the impact on outcome, as well as the risk–benefit ratio of particular diagnostic or therapeutic means. Guidelines are no substitutes but are complements for textbooks and cover the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Core Curriculum topics. Guidelines and recommendations should help the …

/pdf/esc-guidelines-on-the-management-of-cardiovascular-diseases-3xh319x7m6.pdf

ESC Guidelines on the management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy: the Task Force on the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases during Pregnancy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

https://www.cardioatrio.com/index.php/guias-esc?download=107:manejo-cardiopatas-en-embarazo-ehj-2011-embarazo

ESC Guidelines on the management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy The Task Force on the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases

Serial hemodynamic measurements were performed in 13 women on two occasions before conception and then at monthly intervals throughout pregnancy. Cardiac output (CO) was measured by Doppler and cross-sectional echocardiography at the aortic, pulmonary, and mitral valves. Cardiac chamber size and ventricular function were investigated by M-mode echocardiography. CO increased from a mean of 4.88 l/min before the conception to a maximum of 7.21 l/min at 32 wk, the increase being significant by 5 wk after the last menstrual period. Heart rate and left ventricular performance increased during the first trimester. Heart rate increased further during the second trimester, during which left atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions increased, suggesting an increase in venous return. Derived values of total peripheral vascular resistance fell during the first 20 wk. These changes were associated with a progressive increase in valve orifice area and left ventricular wall thickness during pregnancy.

Serial study of factors influencing changes in cardiac output during human pregnancy

Pregnancy is a dynamic process associated with significant physiological changes in the cardiovascular system These changes are mechanisms that the body has adapted to meet the increased metabolic demands of the mother and fetus and to ensure adequate uteroplacental circulation for fetal growth and development Insufficient hemodynamic changes can result in maternal and fetal morbidity, as seen in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation In addition, maternal inability to adapt to these physiological changes can expose underlying, previously silent, cardiac pathology, which is why some call pregnancy nature’s stress test Indeed, cardiovascular disease in pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal mortality in North America1 We therefore review here the normal cardiovascular physiology of pregnancy to provide clinicians with a basis for understanding how the presence of cardiovascular disease may compromise the mother and fetus and how their decisions about medical care may need adjustment

Pregnancy is associated with vasodilation of the systemic vasculature and the maternal kidneys The systemic vasodilation of pregnancy occurs as early as at 5 weeks and therefore precedes full placentation and the complete development of the uteroplacental circulation2 In the first trimester, there is a substantial decrease in peripheral vascular resistance, which decreases to a nadir during the middle of the second trimester with a subsequent plateau or slight increase for the remainder of the pregnancy3 (Figure 1) The decrease is ≈35% to 40% of baseline Systemic vascular resistance increases to near-prepregnancy levels postpartum,4 and by 2 weeks after delivery, maternal hemodynamics have largely returned to nonpregnant levels5 Increased vascular distensibility, or compliance, has been observed in normal human pregnancy starting in the first trimester6 Systemic vascular resistance increases to near-prepregnancy levels postpartum4 Vasodilation of the kidneys results in a 50% increase in renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration …

Cardiovascular physiology of pregnancy.

The first haemodynamic change during pregnancy seems to be a rise in heart rate. Starting between two and five weeks this continues well into the third trimester. Stroke volume increases slightly later than the heart rate and continues throughout the second trimester after an augmentation of venous return and a fall of systemic vascular resistance and afterload. Myocardial contractility is probably slightly increased. During the third trimester there is relatively little change in these cardiac indices. After delivery there is a very early and dramatic reduction in volume loading followed by a return towards normal cardiac output. Structural changes within the heart reflect the volume loading of pregnancy and include dilatation of the valve ring and increase in myocardial thickness. Post partum resolution of the ventricular hypertrophy seems to take longer than the rest of the post partum changes. The resemblance to the cardiovascular changes associated with training and exercise are fascinating and worthy of further study.

https://heart.bmj.com/content/heartjnl/68/12/540.full.pdf

S. Hunter

Papers

Haemodynamic changes during the puerperium: a Doppler and M-mode echocardiographic study.

Combined Doppler and echocardiographic measurement of cardiac output: theory and application in pregnancy

Haemodynamic changes during early pregnancy loss.