Cardiac Surgery in the Parturient

General anesthesia with remimazolam for emergency cesarean section in a patient with acute infective endocarditis: a case report

BACKGROUND

The anesthetic management of pregnant women with acute heart failure remains challenging with regard to maintaining the hemodynamic status of the mother and baby. The likelihood of decreased blood pressure is lower with remimazolam than with propofol. However, there is no report of general anesthesia with remimazolam for cesarean section.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was diagnosed with acute heart failure associated with infective endocarditis. We performed cesarean section under general anesthesia using remimazolam, with percutaneous cardiopulmonary support on standby. The mother's mean blood pressure was maintained above 65 mmHg during the surgery, without catecholamines or vasopressors. The infant's Apgar scores were 4 at 1 min and 7 at 5 min.

CONCLUSION

Cesarean section was successfully performed under general anesthesia with remimazolam in a pregnant patient with acute heart failure. Further studies are needed to clarify the association between remimazolam and neonatal hypotension.

Fetal Doppler monitoring during maternal open-heart surgery: Case report and key aspects of a multidisciplinary challenge

CASE REPORT

Herein we present the case of a 33-year nulliparous woman at 21 weeks of gestation with mitral valve vegetation resulting from infective endocarditis. Due to the mother's critical condition caused by consecutive thromboembolic events, surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass was indicated. During surgery the fetus was monitored by a specialized obstetrician who repetitively measured the Doppler indices of the umbilical artery, Ductus venosus and uterine artery. Right after CO₂ was insufflated into the operating area, the Doppler monitoring showed an increased Pulsatility Index of the Umbilical artery right before fetal distress with bradycardia occurred. A subsequent maternal arterial blood gas analysis showed an acidosis with hypercapnia. Consequently, the CO₂ insufflation was stopped and the gas flow on the Heart Lung Machine increased. After regaining homeostasis of acidosis, the Doppler Indices and fetal heart rate recovered. The remaining surgery and postoperative course were uneventful. At the 37 weeks of gestation a healthy boy was delivered by Cesarean section and at the age of two years, the neurodevelopment was assessed, which indicated normal development in mental cognition, language and motoric. This report presents a periodic Doppler examination of the maternal and fetal circulation during surgery on CPB while also discussing the possible impact of fetal monitoring in managing open cardiac surgery in pregnancy.

Perioperative Anesthetic Management of the Pregnant Patient With Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Cardiac Intervention: A Systematic Review

Maternal congenital heart disease is increasingly prevalent, and has been associated with a significantly increased risk of maternal, obstetric, and neonatal complications. For patients with CHD who require cardiac interventions during pregnancy, there is little evidence-based guidance with regard to optimal perioperative management. The periprocedural management of pregnant patients with congenital heart disease requires extensive planning and a multidisciplinary teams-based approach. Anesthesia providers must not only be facile in the management of adult congenital heart disease, but cognizant of the normal, but significant, physiologic changes of pregnancy.

Case Series: Video-Assisted Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery During Pregnancy

Surgical intervention is expected to improve maternal outcomes in pregnant patients with heart disease once the conservative treatment fails. For pregnant patients with heart disease, the risk of cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) must be balanced due to the high fetal loss. The video-assisted minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has been progressively applied and shows advantages in non-pregnant patients over the years. We present five cases of pregnant women who underwent a video-assisted minimally invasive surgical approach for cardiac surgery and the management strategies. In conclusion, the video-assisted MICS is feasible and safe to pregnant patients, with good maternal and fetal outcomes under the multidisciplinary assessment and management.

Inferior Vena Cava Leiomyosarcoma With Extension to Right Atrium in a Parturient at 30 Weeks of Gestation: A Case Report

Primary leiomyosarcomas of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are rare sarcomas, none of which have been described in literature during a third-trimester pregnancy. Here, we describe the complex care of a patient at 30 weeks of gestation who presented to her obstetrician with shortness of breath and lower extremity swelling. She was found to have a 5.0 × 5.0 × 13 cm heterogeneous mass of her IVC, ultimately diagnosed as a leiomyosarcoma. She underwent a cesarean delivery under combined spinal epidural and a subsequent tumor resection and IVC reconstruction requiring multidisciplinary surgical and anesthetic care.

Infective endocarditis in pregnancy from 2009 to 2019: the consequences of injection drug use

BACKGROUND

Endocarditis during pregnancy carries a maternal mortality of up to 30%, but prior publications do not reflect the current opioid epidemic.

CASE PRESENTATIONS

We reviewed our institution's infective endocarditis registry from 2009 to 2019 and identified 19 females with endocarditis during pregnancy in order to compare our contemporary outcomes with historical reports. In our cohort, intravenous drug use was reported in all cases, and the most common pathogen was Staphylococcus (74%) followed by Serratia (13%). The tricuspid valve was involved in 18 (95%) patients, and contrary to prior reports, all but two patients were managed conservatively with antibiotics alone. Maternal and infant mortality (5% and 0%, respectively) were lower in our cohort compared to all previous reviews.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the better outcomes seen in this report are likely due to the younger age of the patients and the more frequent right-sided valvular involvement.

SUMMARY

This review highlights contemporary outcomes in endocarditis during pregnancy. We review historical case reports in light of the opioid epidemic. We observed more Staphylococcus, more right-sided valvular involvement, and more conservative management as well as improved maternal and foetal mortality.

Anesthetic Management of a Voluminous Left Atrial Myxoma Resection in a 19 Weeks Pregnant with Atypical Clinical Presentation

We report the case of a semi-urgent cardiac surgery, in a 19 gestation age pregnant. Despite the fact that the patient was asymptomatic, except for some palpitations, a large left auricle (LA) myxoma was fortuitously diagnosed with transthoracic echocardiography (TEE). Considering the important embolic risk, the tumor was successfully removed during cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Fetal bradycardia following defibrillation under stable maternal and CPB conditions was successfully managed. The postoperative period and remainder of the pregnancy was smooth and the delivery uneventful.

Nonobstetric Surgery During Pregnancy

One percent to 2% of pregnant women undergo nonobstetric surgery during pregnancy. Historically, there has been a reluctance to operate on pregnant women based on concerns for teratogenesis, pregnancy loss, or preterm birth. However, a careful review of published data suggests four major flaws affecting much of the available literature. Many studies contain outcomes data from past years in which diagnostic testing, surgical technique, and perioperative maternal-fetal care were so different from current experience as to make these data of limited utility today. This issue is further compounded by a tendency to combine experience from vastly disparate types of surgery into a single report. In addition, reports in nonobstetric journals often focus on maternal outcomes and contain insufficient detail regarding perinatal outcomes to allow distinction between complications associated with surgical disease and those attributable to surgery itself. Finally, most series are either uncontrolled or use the general population of pregnant women as controls rather than women with surgical disease who are managed nonsurgically. Consideration of these factors as well as our own extensive experience suggests that when the risks of maternal hypotension or hypoxia are minimal, or can be adequately mitigated, indicated surgery during any trimester does not appear to subject either the mother or fetus to risks significantly beyond those associated with the disease itself or the complications of surgery in nonpregnant individuals. In some cases, reluctance to operate during pregnancy becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in which delay in surgery contributes to adverse perinatal outcomes traditionally attributed to surgery itself.

Impact of prosthetic heart valves on pregnancy in Bangladeshi women

Background:

This study evaluated pregnancy outcome in women with a prosthetic heart valve, especially with the oral anticoagulation therapy that must be weighed against the risk of intracardiac thrombosis.

Methods:

This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study was undertaken between January 2012 and June 2017. The principal maternal outcome variables included bleeding and thromboembolic complications, infective endocarditis, prosthetic valve thrombosis and heart failure. However, the main foetal outcome variables included miscarriage, mortality, preterm baby, warfarin embryopathy, low birthweight and the mode of delivery.

Results:

A total of 265 pregnancies in women with prosthetic heart valves were evaluated in two groups: Group I (n = 182) covers a mechanical valve, while Group II (n = 82) covers a bioprosthetic valve. The mean age of the patients was 25.2 ± 2.5 years and 24.5 ± 5.2 years in Group I and Group II, respectively. Approximately 80% of the patients had normal echocardiography findings. However, Group I (mechanical prostheses) has a higher incidence (11.54%) of thrombus formation in comparison with the bioprostheses. Hemorrhagic complications and spontaneous miscarriage were statistically significant (p⩽0.05) between the study groups. However, normal pregnancy outcome (91.57%) was significantly higher (p⩽0.05) in Group II compared to Group I (61.54%). Mean birthweight and mean APGAR score were found normal in both study groups. Only 2.75% of patients have warfarin embryopathy in Group I. Furthermore, comparison of SF-36 scores for HRQOL (Health-Related Quality of Life) before and after pregnancy were statistically insignificant among the study population.

Conclusion:

Proper antenatal care and early risk stratification are the fundamental measures to improve the maternal and foetal outcomes in a patient with a prosthetic heart valve.

The top 100 manuscripts in emergency cardiac surgery. Potential role in cardiothoracic training. A bibliometric analysis

Background

Emergency Cardiac Surgery (ECS) is a component of cardiothoracic training. Citations are considered to represent a papers influence. Bibliometric analyses allow us to identify the most influential work, and future research. We aim to highlight the key research themes within ECS and determine their potential impact on cardiothoracic training.

Methods

Thomas Reuters Web of Science was searched using terms [Emergency AND Card* AND Surg*]. Results were ranked by citation and reviewed by a panel of cardiac surgeons to identify the top 100 cited papers relevant to ECS. Papers were analysed by topic, journal and impact. Regression analysis was used to determine a link between impact factor and scientific impact.

Results

3823 papers were identified. Median citations for the top 100 was 88. The paper with the highest impact was by Nashef et al. focusing on the use of EuroSCORE (2043 citations). The Annals of Thoracic Surgery published most papers (n = 18:1778 citations). The European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery coveted the most citations (n = 2649). The USA published most papers (n = 55).The most ubiquitous topics were; risk stratification, circulatory support and aortic surgery. A positive relationship between journal impact fact and the scientific impact of manuscripts in ECS (P = 0.043) was deduced.

Conclusion

This study is the first of its kind and identified the papers which are likely to the contribute most to training and understanding of ECS. A papers influence is partially determined by journal impact factor. Bibliometric analysis is a potent tool to identify surgical training needs.

Impact of prosthetic heart valves on pregnancy in Bangladeshi women

Background:

This study evaluated pregnancy outcome in women with a prosthetic heart valve, especially with the oral anticoagulation therapy that must be weighed against the risk of intracardiac thrombosis.

Methods:

This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study was undertaken between January 2012 and June 2017. The principal maternal outcome variables included bleeding and thromboembolic complications, infective endocarditis, prosthetic valve thrombosis and heart failure. However, the main foetal outcome variables included miscarriage, mortality, preterm baby, warfarin embryopathy, low birthweight and the mode of delivery.

Results:

A total of 265 pregnancies in women with prosthetic heart valves were evaluated in two groups: Group I (n = 182) covers a mechanical valve, while Group II (n = 82) covers a bioprosthetic valve. The mean age of the patients was 25.2 ± 2.5 years and 24.5 ± 5.2 years in Group I and Group II, respectively. Approximately 80% of the patients had normal echocardiography findings. However, Group I (mechanical prostheses) has a higher incidence (11.54%) of thrombus formation in comparison with the bioprostheses. Hemorrhagic complications and spontaneous miscarriage were statistically significant (p⩽0.05) between the study groups. However, normal pregnancy outcome (91.57%) was significantly higher (p⩽0.05) in Group II compared to Group I (61.54%). Mean birthweight and mean APGAR score were found normal in both study groups. Only 2.75% of patients have warfarin embryopathy in Group I. Furthermore, comparison of SF-36 scores for HRQOL (Health-Related Quality of Life) before and after pregnancy were statistically insignificant among the study population.

Conclusion:

Proper antenatal care and early risk stratification are the fundamental measures to improve the maternal and foetal outcomes in a patient with a prosthetic heart valve.

Maternal and Fetal Outcome After Cardiac Operations During Pregnancy: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

In the past, cardiac surgical procedures during pregnancy have been associated with a high risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Therefore, this meta-analysis of more recent studies was done to assess the fetomaternal risk after cardiac operations during pregnancy using cardiopulmonary bypass.

METHODS

The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched to find studies from January 1, 1990, to July 31, 2016, without language restriction. We selected studies that included at least 4 women to report fetomaternal outcomes after a cardiac operation using cardiopulmonary bypass during pregnancy. Two authors independently extracted data from the selected studies. The studies were assessed for methodological qualities using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The primary outcomes included maternal death and any pregnancy loss. The secondary outcomes were maternal complications and neonatal complications. Primary analysis calculated absolute risks and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for pregnancy outcomes using the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed by I² statistic and visual plot.

RESULTS

Ten studies, including 154 women, were eligible for inclusion in this study. The patients underwent cardiac operations during pregnancy involving cardiopulmonary bypass. As calculated per 100 pregnancies, the pooled unadjusted estimate of maternal mortality was 11.2 (95% CI, 6.8 to 17.8), pregnancy loss was 33.1 (95% CI, 25.1 to 41.2), maternal complications were 8.8 (95% CI, 2.8 to 24.2), and neonatal complications were 10.8 (95% CI, 4.2 to 25.2). The risks of preterm labor and cesarean delivery were 28 per 100 pregnancies (95% CI, 15.6 to 45) and 33.8 per 100 pregnancies (95% CI, 19.1 to 52.4), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The fetomaternal mortality and morbidity after a cardiac operation during pregnancy are higher than that reported in the earlier literature (PROSPERO No. CRD42016047093).

[Valve sparing aortic root replacement (David Procedure) in 36 year - old woman with the Marfan syndrome at the 27th week of pregnancy]

The article presents a clinical case of valve sparing aortic root replacement (David Procedure) in 36 year - old woman with the Marfan syndrome at the 27th week of gestation followed by successful prolongation of pregnancy. Indications for reconstructive intervention with cardiopulmonary bypass were: severe aortic valve insufficiency, Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm (66 mm) and the ascending aorta dilatation (53 mm) with a rapid increase of aortic root dimension (12 mm during 9 weeks). The patient underwent a valve sparing aortic root replacement according to David procedure using Gelweave Valsalva graft (Vascutec) No 28 The time of cardiopulmonary bypass was 137 minutes; the time of aortic cross-clamping was 107 minutes. The patient was discharged from the hospital in a satisfactory condition in 21 days after the operation. Pregnancy was prolonged and ended with a planned cesarean section at 38 weeks of gestation, the birth of a boy with an Apgar score of 7/8.

Successful pulmonary embolectomy for massive pulmonary embolism during pregnancy: a case report

Background

Pulmonary embolism (PE) resulting from venous thromboembolism is a leading cause of maternal mortality in pregnancy. In patients with massive PE and hemodynamic instability, the treatment options often considered are thrombolytics, inferior vena caval filters, or embolectomy. We report here the case of a patient with massive PE at 28 weeks’ gestation, who underwent emergency pulmonary embolectomy via cardiopulmonary bypass.

Case presentation

A 35-year old primigravida with a history of massive PE at 25 weeks of gestation was referred to our hospital at 28 weeks of gestation, following treatment failure after insertion of an inferior vena cava filter and heparin administration. Emergency thrombectomy was performed, and intracardiac echography was used for intraoperative fetal heart rate monitoring. However, the patient developed hemodynamic collapse following anesthesia induction; hence, emergency cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was performed via median sternotomy. Thrombectomy and tricuspid valve plication were performed under cardiac arrest. After confirming postoperative hemostasis, heparin administration was resumed. At 40 weeks of gestation, labor was induced under epidural analgesia. Both mother and child were discharged with no complications.

Conclusion

In conclusion, intracardiac echography is useful for fetal heart rate monitoring during emergency cardiac surgery in pregnancy. Careful CPB management is important to maintain uteroplacental blood flow. Although there is no consensus on the delivery methods in such cases, epidural analgesia during labor was useful in reducing cardiac load and wound traction.

Organisation of care for pregnancy in patients with congenital heart disease

Improvements in surgery have resulted in more women with repaired congenital heart disease (CHD) surviving to adulthood. Women with CHD, who wish to embark on pregnancy require prepregnancy counselling. This consultation should cover several issues such as the long-term prognosis of the mother, fertility and miscarriage rates, recurrence risk of CHD in the baby, drug therapy during pregnancy, estimated maternal risk and outcome, expected fetal outcomes and plans for pregnancy. Prenatal genetic testing is available for those patients with an identified genetic defect using pregestational diagnosis or prenatal diagnosis chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Centralisation of care is needed for high-risk patients. Finally, currently there are no recommendations addressing the issue of the delivery. It is crucial that a dedicated plan for delivery should be available for all cardiac patients. The maternal mortality in low-income to middle-income countries is 14 times higher than in high-income countries and needs additional aspects and dedicated care.

Anesthetic management of cesarean delivery in parturients with ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm: CARE-compliant 2 case reports and literature review

RATIONALE

Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is rare and dangerous in parturients. Few cases of ruptured SVA in pregnancy are reported, and the anesthetic management for cesarean delivery has scarcely been described.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A parturient at 37-week gestation complained of a sore throat and cough that started 3 days before admission, followed 1 day later by fever, dizziness, breathlessness, and palpitation on exertion. Case two at 36-week gestation complained of a 1-day history of bloating in the lower abdomen.

DIAGNOSES

Full term and preterm parturients with ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.

INTERVENTIONS

Cesarean deliveries were performed with incremental epidural anesthesia technique under invasive monitoring. Surgical correction of the ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms and ventricular septal defect were performed uneventfully 13 days and 7 days postpartum, respectively, for the 2 cases.

OUTCOMES

No complications were observed in the intra- or postoperative period for both mothers and babies.

LESSONS

We reviewed the pertinent literature and reached the following conclusions: use of a multidisciplinary team to guide anesthetic management is helpful and necessary; and both general anesthesia and incremental epidural anesthesia can be safely used in parturients with ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm.

Cardiac Lesions in the Critical Care Setting

The long-held belief that pregnancy is absolutely contraindicated in maternal cardiovascular disease is no longer justifiable using evidence-base medicine. There are some conditions in which pregnancy is contraindicated, and high maternal risk and poor fetal outcome can be predicted. However, in many women with heart disease, a more favorable maternal and fetal outcome is expected. This article focusses on the cardiac conditions that require more attention and have the potential to require observation in the intensive care unit setting.

Management of Pregnancy in Patients With Complex Congenital Heart Disease: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association

Today, most female children born with congenital heart disease will reach childbearing age. For many women with complex congenital heart disease, carrying a pregnancy carries a moderate to high risk for both the mother and her fetus. Many such women, however, do not have access to adult congenital heart disease tertiary centers with experienced reproductive programs. Therefore, it is important that all practitioners who will be managing these women have current information not only on preconception counseling and diagnostic evaluation to determine maternal and fetal risk but also on how to manage them once they are pregnant and when to refer them to a regional center with expertise in pregnancy management.

Aortic Dissection in Pregnancy: Management Strategy and Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Aortic dissection in pregnancy is a rare but lethal catastrophe. Clinical experiences are limited. We report our experience in 25 patients focusing on etiology, management strategies, and outcomes.

METHODS

Between June 1998 and February 2015, we treated 25 pregnant women (mean age, 31.6 ± 4.7 years) in whom aortic dissection developed at a mean of 28 ± 10 gestational weeks (GWs). Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) was present in 20 (80%) and type B (TBAD) in 5 (20%). Marfan syndrome was seen in 17 (68%). Management strategy was based on dissection type and GWs.

RESULTS

TAADs were managed surgically in 19 (95.0%) and medically in 1 (5.0%). Maternal and fetal mortalities were, respectively, 14.3% (1 of 7) and 0 (0 of 7) in the "delivery first" group (7 of 20), 16.7% (1 of 6) and 33.3% (2 of 6) in "single-stage delivery and aortic repair" group (6 of 20), 16.7% (1 of 6) and 66.7% (4 of 6) in "aortic repair first" group (6 of 20), and 100% (1 of 1) and 100% (1 of 1) in the "medical management" group (1 of 20). TBADs were managed surgically in 60% (3 of 5) and endovascularly and medically in 20% each (1 of 5). No maternal deaths occurred. Fetal mortality was 100% in the surgical group and 0% in the other groups. During late follow-up, which was complete in 95.2% (20 of 21), 3 maternal and 2 fetal deaths occurred in the TAAD group. Overall maternal survival was 68.6% at 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Marfan syndrome predominates among women with aortic dissection in pregnancy. For TAADs, after 28 GWs, delivery followed by surgical repair can achieve maternal and fetal survival adequately; before 28 GWs, maternal survival should be prioritized given the high risk of fetal death. For TBADs in pregnancy, nonsurgical management is preferred.

A Historic Case of Cardiac Surgery in Pregnancy

Background. Heart disease is the leading cause of nonobstetric mortality in pregnant women. Because of high risk, medical management represents the first line of treatment. However, when medical treatment fails, cardiac surgery becomes necessary. Case Presentation. A 27-year-old female who underwent successfully cardiac surgery three times within 3 years. At the first time, she had an aortic valve replacement at 25 weeks of gestation after an infectious endocarditis complicated with an ischemic stroke. At 39 weeks of gestation, she had delivered, vaginally, a healthy baby boy weighing 2800 g. In the second time, pregnant again at 30 weeks of gestation, she had a mitral valve replacement with an aortic prosthesis reinforcement after a paraprosthetic regurgitation and a mitral vegetation. A fetal death in utero had occurred; the extraction of the fetus by cesarean section with a tubal ligation was performed after stabilization of the mother. In the third time, she underwent successfully a mitral prosthesis replacement with Bentall's procedure after a mitral prosthesis disinsertion with an abscess of aortic annulus due to new episode of infectious endocarditis. Conclusion. Our patient has assembled almost all poor prognosis factors, which makes her a real historic case, probably never described in the literature.

Aortic surgery in pregnancy

Pregnancy engenders changes in hemodynamics and the aortic wall that make a woman more susceptible to aortic dilatation and dissection. This is particularly true of women with aortic dilatation and an aortopathy, including the inherited fibrillinopathies, bicuspid aortic valve, and Turner syndrome. Women in these risk groups may be served best by undergoing elective aortic surgery before becoming pregnant. However, some women present during pregnancy with significant aortic dilatation, rapid expansion, or aortic dissection, and strategies to deal with these situations, while optimizing maternal and fetal outcomes, change as gestation progresses. This review summarizes the approaches to the management of aortic diseases and the conduct of aortic surgery in pregnancy.

Adult congenital heart disease and pregnancy

Adults with congenital heart disease now form the largest group of women with cardiac disease becoming pregnant in the developed world. This is both a mark of impressive steps forward in the management of congenital heart disease and also a challenge to the medical community to develop systems of care that will best serve these women and their babies. Each woman with congenital heart disease presents a unique pattern of challenges for the cardiologist, obstetrician, and anesthesiologist, and their care should be tailored to deal with their individual circumstances. As this population of patients continues to grow, we must continue to learn and improve our diagnostic tools and management strategies to refine their care. This review intends to focus on reviewing the outcomes in this set of patients and also an approach to the assessment and the management of these patients, primarily for an audience of obstetricians, pediatricians, and anesthesiologists.

Outcomes in pregnant women with acute aortic dissections: a review of the literature from 2003 to 2013

BACKGROUND

Acute aortic dissection in pregnant women is a rare but potentially life-threatening event. Our aim was to evaluate maternal and fetal outcomes of acute aortic dissection during pregnancy.

METHODS

We conducted a review of literature of the PubMed database to identify publications related to pregnant women with acute aortic dissections during the period 2003-2013: 59 articles were included in the study.

RESULTS

A total of 75 patients were included in the analyses. Stanford type A dissections were the most common form, accounting for 77% of all cases. The majority (78%) occurred in the third trimester and immediate postpartum period. Inherited connective tissue disorders were causative in 49% of patients. Maternal mortality was not statistical different between type A and type B dissections (21% vs. 23%), but fetal outcomes were worse in type B dissections (35% vs. 10.3%; P<0.05). Fetal mortality in type A dissections was dependent on the timing of aortic repair, with antepartum aortic repair associated with a higher mortality (36%).

CONCLUSION

Despite advances in diagnostic and surgical techniques, maternal and fetal mortalities in pregnant patients with aortic dissection remain high. Patients undergoing combined cesarean section with aortic repair had favorable fetal outcomes.

Anesthetic experience using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cesarean section in the patient with peripartum cardiomyopathy: a case report

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare form of cardiomyopathy that is associated with significant mortality. It can cause a cardiac arrest during cesarean section even though the patient does not have any previous symptom and sign. The most important thing of anesthesia in this patient is an optimization of hemodynamic and respiratory status. We report the successful general anesthesia using of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cesarean section in a 34-year-old woman with fulminant peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Congenital heart disease in pregnancy

The story of congenital heart disease is one of the major successes of medicine in the last 50 years. Heart conditions previously associated with early death are now successfully treated. Many of these women are now in their child-bearing years wishing to have children of their own. All of these women should be offered comprehensive pre-conception counselling by a dedicated multi-disciplinary team. Each woman will present a unique set of cardiac and obstetric challenges that require an individualised assessment of risk and a carefully documented care plan. In this chapter, I describe the most common forms of congenital heart disease and the specific issues that should be assessed before conception. I present a systematic approach to risk stratification and care planning. These lesions range from mild disease with little implications for pregnancy to those with a sizable risk of maternal mortality or complications. I will also discuss fetal risk factors.

Management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in women of childbearing age is rising. The successes in medical and surgical treatment of congenital heart disease have led to an increasing number of women at childbearing age presenting with problems of treated congenital heart disease. Furthermore, in developing countries and in immigrants from these countries, rheumatic valvular heart disease still plays a significant role in young women. Increasing age of pregnant women and increasing prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors have led to an increase in women with coronary artery disease at pregnancy. Successful management of pregnancy in women with CVDs requires early diagnosis, a thorough risk stratification, and appropriate management by a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and primary care physicians. The following review is based on the recent European guidelines on the management of CVDs during pregnancy, which aim at providing concise and simple recommendations for these challenging problems.

Indications for Cardiopulmonary Bypass During Pregnancy and Impact on Fetal Outcomes

Background: Cardiac operations in pregnant patients are a challenge for physicians in multidisciplinary teams due to the complexity of the condition which affects both mother and baby. Management strategies vary on a case-by-case basis. Feto-neonatal and maternal outcomes after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in pregnancy, especially long-term follow-up results, have not been sufficiently described. Methods: This review was based on a complete literature retrieval of articles published between 1991 and April 30, 2013. Results: Indications for CPB during pregnancy were cardiac surgery in 150 (96.8 %) patients, most of which consisted of valve replacements for mitral and/or aortic valve disorders, resuscitation due to amniotic fluid embolism, autotransfusion, and circulatory support during cesarean section to improve patient survival in 5 (3.2 %) patients. During CPB, fetuses showed either a brief heart rate drop with natural recovery after surgery or, in most cases, fetal heart rate remained normal throughout the whole course of CPB. Overall feto-neonatal mortality was 18.6 %. In comparison with pregnant patients whose baby survived, feto-neonatal death occurred after a significantly shorter gestational period at the time of onset of cardiac symptoms, cardiac surgery/resuscitation under CPB in the whole patient setting, or cardiac surgery/resuscitation with CPB prior to delivery. Conclusions: The most common surgical indications for CPB during pregnancy were cardiac surgery, followed by resuscitation for cardiopulmonary collapse. CPB was used most frequently in maternal cardiac surgery/resuscitation in the second trimester. Improved CPB conditions including high flow, high pressure and normothermia or mild hypothermia during pregnancy have benefited maternal and feto-neonatal outcomes. A shorter gestational period and the use of CPB during pregnancy were closely associated with feto-neonatal mortality. It is therefore important to attempt delivery ahead of surgery/CPB or to defer surgery till late pregnancy.

Treating Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy

Maternal cardiac disease is a very significant cause of both maternal morbidity and mortality in westernized countries. An effective treatment program must tackle all of the contributing components, including those due to public health issues, poorly coordinated healthcare systems and inadequate medical education. Even with optimal care, many of these patients remain at high risk. In this setting, it is the role of the multidisciplinary team to counsel women regarding these risks and to proactively institute treatment algorithms that will optimize maternal and fetal outcomes.

[Anaestheia for valve replacement in the second trimester of pregnancy]

Cardiac surgery in the pregnant woman gives rise to several anesthetic challenges, as the mother, but mainly the fetus, have a risk of high morbidity and mortality. In this context, the cardiopulmonary bypass is the most complex period, owing to the risks of fetal hypoxia it entails. Due to the absence, for ethical reasons, of prospective trials that provide generally accepted guidelines in intraoperative management, it means that physicians have to work based on case reports in the literature. These procedures also require team coordination to be successful. The case is presented of a 19 weeks pregnant woman, who required a mitral valve replacement, which was achieved with success, and enabled her to complete her pregnancy without complications. Details are provided on the published references on which our management was based.

Carinal resection requiring cardiopulmonary bypass in a pregnant patient

A 35-year-old woman at 13 weeks gestation presented with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the distal left mainstem bronchus with chronic collapse of the left lung requiring carinal pneumonectomy. The extent of the tumor and need for significant retraction during dissection and pneumonectomy resulted in the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient underwent successful left carinal pneumonectomy and subsequently delivered a healthy baby.

Emergent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in early pregnancy: report of four cases

Background:

Due to current medical improvements, more women with cardiac disease are being operated during pregnancy. Fetal loss has been found to be significant between 9-30% of them and the surgery is supposed to be done maximal in the first trimester.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to report our experience with urgent cardiopulmonary bypass carried out in early pregnancy and to analyze factors that may influence fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality after surgery.

Materials and Methods:

We have retrospectively reviewed the case notes of the patients who underwent cardiac surgery during early pregnancy in our institution from January 1997 to October 2011.

Results:

During that period cardiac surgery was done in 305 patients in childbearing age (between 15-50 years) from which 4 were pregnant and in the first half of their pregnancy. All of them had previous surgery due to rhumatismal heart disease .The surgery was emergent in 3 cases and urgent in 1 case. They were operated under normothermic conditions, high flow and hemodynamic stability throughout the procedure. There was no fetal loss but one patient sustained a cardiac arrest secondary to asthma complicated by post-anoxic brain injury.

Conclusions:

Normothermia and hemodynamic stability are the most important factors which help to reduce fetal loss during open heart surgery in pregnancy. The fetus has an auto-regulation which comes into play when the mother is experiencing shock.

Pregnancy and delivery in cardiac disease

Although its prevalence is relatively low in pregnant women, heart disease is the most important cause of maternal mortality. Problems may arise due to hemodynamic burden and the hypercoagulable state of pregnancy. Heart disease may be congenital or acquired. In developed countries, the former composes the biggest part of women with heart disease. Patients with unrepaired lesions, cyanotic lesions, diminished systemic ventricular function, complex congenital heart disease, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, pulmonary hypertension, or mechanical valves are at highest risk of developing complications during pregnancy. All patients with known cardiac disease should preferably be counseled before conception. Pre-pregnancy evaluation should include risk assessment for the mother and fetus, including medication use and information on heredity of the cardiac lesion. Management of pregnancy and delivery should be planned accordingly on individual bases. The types of complications are related to the cardiac diagnosis, with arrhythmias and heart failure being most common. Treatment options should be discussed with the future parents, as they may affect both mother and child. In general, the preferred route of delivery is vaginal. The optimal care for pregnant women with heart disease requires multidisciplinary involvement and is best concentrated in tertiary centers.

Stanford type a aortic dissection in pregnancy: a diagnostic and management challenge

BACKGROUND

In women under the age of 40, over 50% of type A aortic dissections occur in the obstetric population. This is a complex situation, with potential catastrophic outcomes for mother and child. Time to diagnosis is often delayed by a low degree of suspicion, atypical presentation and difficulties investigating pregnant women. Management requires early involvement of multiple teams and appreciation of potential complications. We report our experience (the largest series described) and describe our surgical strategy.

METHODS

A retrospective search of the cardiothoracic surgical database at our centre from 2002 to 2010 identified five pregnant women with type A dissections.

RESULTS

Median time to diagnosis was 18.5 h (range 5.5-150 h) and median time from diagnosis to arrival in the operating theatre was 1.5 h (range 0.5-54 h). Four patients underwent concomitant Caesarean section and dissection repair. There was one maternal death and one unrelated foetal death.

CONCLUSION

Occurrence of type A aortic dissection in pregnant women is uncommon but potentially catastrophic. A high index of suspicion and timely investigations are necessary to expedite definitive management. Sound surgical strategies and collaboration with appropriate teams are necessary to optimise outcome.

Congenital heart disease in pregnancy

Heart disease is a main cause of maternal mortality in the United States and the United Kingdom. Most deaths are from acquired conditions. However, due to the increased survival of children born with congenital heart disease (CHD) over the past 30 years, the population of adults with congenital heart disease in the U.S. now exceeds 1 million. Thus, there are now more adults with CHD than children with CHD. Many of these adult survivors of pediatric heart disease are of childbearing age and are considering pregnancy. This article reviews the literature concerning pregnancy and CHD.