Cardiac disease during pregnancy--a Free State perspective on maternal morbidity and mortality
Schoon, M.G.; Bam, R.H.; Wolmarans, L.
South African Medical Journal 87(Suppl 1): C19-C22
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 9186451 Document Number: 268298
Description of maternal outcome of pregnancies complicated by cardiac disease. Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein. Black African women of low socio-economic background who presented with cardiac disease during pregnancy. All patients who delivered from 1 January 1990 to 1 January 1995. Descriptive retrospective study. Cardiac disease complicated 0.6% of pregnancies. Rheumatic valvular disease dominated in this population. The maternal mortality rate was 9.5% while the maternal morbidity rate ranged from 50% to 100% for the various lesions. Cardiac disease in pregnancy has high maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Hypertension, anticoagulation therapy, late referrals and inadequate counselling were important contributing factors. A high priority should be given to meticulous contraceptive counselling in patients with cardiac disease. Collaboration between obstetricians, physicians and cardiothoracic surgeons in imperative.