Current Understanding of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: review and practice guidelines

Peripartum cardiomyopathy, a type of dilated cardiomyopathy of unknown origin, occurs in previously healthy women in the final month of pregnancy and up to 5 months after delivery. Although the incidence is low-less than 0.1% of pregnancies -morbidity and mortality rates are high at 5% to 32%. The outcome of peripartum cardiomyopathy is also highly variable. For some women, the clinical and echocardiographic status improves and sometimes returns to normal, whereas for others, the disease progresses to severe cardiac failure and even sudden cardiac death. In acute care, treatment may involve the use of intravenous vasodilators, inotropic medications, an intra-aortic balloon pump, ventricular-assist devices, and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Survivors of peripartum cardiomyopathy often recover from left ventricular dysfunction; however, they may be at risk for recurrence of heart failure and death in subsequent pregnancies. Women with chronic left ventricular dysfunction should be managed according to guidelines of the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association.

"I am not alone": a survey of women with peripartum cardiomyopathy and their participation in an online support group

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a devastating condition in which women without a previously identified heart condition experience heart failure in the ninth month of pregnancy or in the first 5 months after delivery of a baby. Online support groups are virtual communities for people affected by the same social or health issue. No literature exists on the benefits of women involved in an online support group for peripartum cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the benefits of participation in the online support group for peripartum cardiomyopathy based on a survey of active members of the group. All contacts between researchers and respondents were through e-mail. A survey of open-ended and Likert-type questions was used. Twelve women, aged 19 to 34 years, participated; all had a diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy. This online support group is a vital resource for women with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Benefits to participation in the online support group included getting and sharing information, exchanging stories, being understood by other women, and gaining hope. Nurse practice implications include referring patients to reputable Web sites and support groups and serving as a professional facilitator in an online group.