Feto-maternal morbidity and mortality after cardiac valve replacement

Background. The aim of this study is to evaluate the fetomaternal morbidity and mortality of the pregnancies of women who conceived after cardiac valv e replacement. Methods. A consecutive series of one hundred and thirty-six pregnancies of one hundred and one patients who conceived after, cardiac valve replacement were retrospectively analyzed. Regarding the anticoagulation therapy, 101 patients were classified into three groups: A: patients on oral anticoagula nts (n=68), B: patients on heparin (n=16) and C patients who received no an ticoagulation (n= 17). Results. Three groups (patients on oral anticoagulants (A), on heparin (B), patients who received no anticoagulation (C)) were compared in terms of sp ontaneous abortion (19%, 11%, 5.6%), preterm delivery (14%, 22.3%, 16.6%), maternal mortality (3%, 11.1%, 0%), thromboembolic events (4%, 11.1%, 0%), cardiac failure (6%, 11.1%, 11.1%), atrial fibrillation (9%, 11.1%, 5.6%), antenatal bleeding (9%, 11.1%, 5.61/o), delivery route and fetal malformati on (5%, 0%, 0%) and no statistically significant differences were detected. In group B, hematoma formation rate (22.2%) (p=0.011) and transfusion rate (27.8%) (p=0.005) were significantly higher. Five cases of congenital anom alies were detected, all belonging to group A, but this tendency was not fo und to be statistically significant. Conclusions. Management of pregnancies with prosthetic heart valves require closely monitored anticoagulation, and an obstetrician should be familiar with the potential fetal and maternal adverse effects of any anticoagulant therapy during the course of pregnancy.