Cardiac disease in pregnancy echocardiography
Cardiac disease in pregnancy Microchapters |
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Cardiac disease in pregnancy echocardiography On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Cardiac disease in pregnancy |
Risk calculators and risk factors for Cardiac disease in pregnancy echocardiography |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Echocardiograhy does not carry the risk of fetal irradiation and it is a safe and preferred screening method to assess cardiac function and valvular lesions in the pregnant patient.
Echocardiography
Maternal Echocardiographic Findings
- There is a progressive increase in chamber dimension with:
- ~20% increase in the size of the right atrium and the right ventricle,
- ~12% increase in left atrial size, and
- ~6% increase in left ventricular size.
- Following delivery, the above changes gradually return to their pre-gestational baseline size.
- In addition, there is early and progressive dilation of the mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary annuli which is associated with an increase in valvular regurgitation.
Fetal Echocardiography
Fetal echocardiography is 96% sensitive in detecting major structural malformations (72/74 abnormalities identified among 1,022 fetuses) and is useful for genetics counseling and management during pregnancy and postpartum.
Indications for Echocardiography
- Pregnant women at high-risk for structural heart disease with:
- History of congenital heart disease themselves or in previous children.
- Presence of diabetes or collagen vascular disease- predisposing factor for congenital heart disease.
- History of a fetal arrhythmia
- Consumption of teratogens