Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Echocardiographic assessment and critical care management of peri-partum women with unexpected left ventricular failure

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac disease remains the largest single cause of maternal death. Whilst uncommon, left ventricular failure during pregnancy and delivery can be devastating to both mother and child. Echocardiography can play a significant role in rapidly establishing a diagnosis, guiding initial therapy and then monitoring response.

CLINICAL VIGNETTES

The history, presentation and management of three cases of peri-partum left ventricular failure is examined: stress cardiomyopathy in a 34 year old with twins, left ventricular dysfunction secondary to pre-eclampsia in a 22 year old with a singleton pregnancy and a true peri-partum cardiomyopathy in a 42 year old with IVF twins. The defining risk factors, presenting characteristics and echocardiographical findings for each pathology are highlighted.

CONCLUSION

Echocardiography is playing an increasingly important role in the immediate assessment and management of left ventricular failure. This is especially true in the peri-partum woman, where establishing the correct therapy is both challenging and crucial due to the significant cardiovascular changes that occur around the time of delivery. To this end we believe that echocardiography should be rapidly available to guide the management of these patients by a multidisciplinary team made up of obstetricians, cardiologists, anaesthetists and intensive care physicians.

Cardiovascular disease in women: insights from magnetic resonance imaging

The presentation and identification of cardiovascular disease in women pose unique diagnostic challenges compared to men, and underrecognized conditions in this patient population may lead to clinical mismanagement.This article reviews the sex differences in cardiovascular disease, explores the diagnostic and prognostic role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in the spectrum of cardiovascular disorders in women, and proposes the added value of CMR compared to other imaging modalities. In addition, this article specifically reviews the role of CMR in cardiovascular diseases occurring more frequently or exclusively in female patients, including Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, connective tissue disorders, primary pulmonary arterial hypertension and peripartum cardiomyopathy. Gaps in knowledge and opportunities for further investigation of sex-specific cardiovascular differences by CMR are also highlighted.

Cardiovascular Outcomes in Advanced Maternal Age Delivering Women. Clinical Review and Medico-Legal Issues

Background and objecives: Adverse cardiovascular outcomes during pregnancy have increased over the past few decades, with increased numbers of women delivering later in their reproductive life. Other factors include higher rates of female obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and assisted reproductive technology, which has extended fertility. Those at risk require extensive prenatal maternal screening, constant pregnancy supervising, monitoring during labor, delivery and puerperium and careful anesthetic evaluation during delivery. Materials and Methods: The present review reports the relevant information available on cardiovascular outcomes in advanced maternal age delivering women and related medico-legal issues. The search was performed on Pubmed, Cochrane, Semantic Scholar, Medline and Embase databases, accessed by Ovid, including among others the terms "cardiomyopathy", "ischaemic heart disease", "arrhythmias", "hypertension", "peripartum period", "diabetes", "advanced maternal age" "anesthesia", "maternal morbidity and mortality" and "litigation". Results: To the extent that underestimating risk factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) can adversely impact maternal and fetal outcomes, the legal implications of misdiagnosis or mismanagement can result in high compensatory damages. Substantial indemnity payments drive up costs of insurance coverage. Conclusions: Multidisciplinary approaches are necessary from obstetricians, cardiologists, anesthesiologists and perinatologists for pregnancy monitoring and delivery outcomes.

Anesthetic Treatment of Cardiac Disease During Pregnancy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes the pathophysiology, peripartum treatment, and anesthetic management of parturients with cardiac disease. Valvular disease, coronary disease, and cardiomyopathy are specifically addressed in the context of the normal physiologic changes of pregnancy. We offer recommendations for anesthetic approaches, hemodynamic goals with an emphasis on interdisciplinary planning between anesthesiologists, cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine specialists, and neonatologists.

RECENT FINDINGS

Vaginal delivery with neuraxial analgesia can be well tolerated by many pregnant patients with cardiac disease when coordinated by an interdisciplinary team of experts. Cardiac disease in pregnancy can present a significant challenge for the interdisciplinary care team. A detailed understanding of each patient's cardiac pathology and the physiologic changes of pregnancy are critical to ensure a safe and successful labor and delivery. Optimized medical therapy in the peripartum period and neuraxial anesthesia with the judicious use of vasoactive agents can be of great benefit for these parturients. As is generally the case, cesarean delivery should be primarily reserved for obstetric indications and maternal wellbeing, with careful consideration of the fetus to guide best practices.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: Status 2018

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare cardiac condition, overall. However, in certain populations can be found frequently enough and the signs, symptoms, and management should be readily understood. Here we provide an updated overview of this topic.

Acute respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation in pregnant patient: A narrative review of literature

Physiological changes of pregnancy imposes higher risk of acute respiratory failure (ARF) with even a slight insult and remains an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Although pregnant women have different respiratory physiology and different causes of ARF, guidelines specific to ventilatory settings, goals of oxygenation and weaning process could not be framed due to lack of large-scale randomized controlled trials. During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, pregnant women had higher morbidity and mortality compared to nonpregnant women. During this period, alternative strategies of ventilation such as high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, inhalational of nitric oxide, prone positioning, and extra corporeal membrane oxygenation were increasingly used as a desperate measure to rescue pregnant patients with severe hypoxemia who were not improving with conventional mechanical ventilation. This article highlights the causes of ARF and recent advances in invasive, noninvasive and alternative strategies of ventilation used during pregnancy.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in Intensive Care Unit: An Update

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a systolic heart failure that occurs during the last month of pregnancy or within 5 months after delivery. It is an uncommon disease of unknown etiopathogenesis and has a very high rate of maternal mortality. Because of similarity between symptoms of PPCM and physiological discomforts during pregnancy, the early diagnosis of PPCM presents a major challenge. Since hemodynamic changes during PPCM can vitally jeopardize the mother and the fetus, patients with severe forms of PPCM require a multidisciplinary approach in intensive care units. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about the diagnosis, monitoring, and the treatment of PPCM. Having reviewed the recent researches, it gives insight into the new treatment strategies of this rare disease.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare form of unexplained cardiac failure of unknown origin, unique to the pregnant woman with highly variable outcome associated with high morbidity and mortality. PPCM is fraught with controversies in its definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. PPCM is frequently under diagnosed, inadequately treated and without a laid down follow-up regimen, thus, the aim of this review. Publications on PPCM were accessed using Medline, Google scholar and Pubmed databases. Relevant materials on PPCM, selected references from internet services, journals, textbooks, and lecture notes on PPCM were also accessed and critically reviewed. PPCM is multifactorial in origin. It is a diagnosis of exclusion and should be based on classic echocardiographic criteria. The outcome of PPCM is also highly variable with high morbidity and mortality rates. Future pregnancies are not recommended in women with persistent ventricular dysfunction because the heart cannot tolerate increased cardiovascular workload associated with the pregnancy. Although, multiparity is associated with PPCM, there is an increased risk of fetal prematurity and fetal loss. PPCM is a rare form of dilated cardiomyopathy of unknown origin, unique to pregnant women. The pathophysiology is poorly understood. Echocardiography is central to diagnosis of PPCM and effective treatment monitoring in patients of PPCM. The outcome is highly variable and related to reversal of ventricular dysfunction.

Use of a single-circuit CentriMag® for biventricular support in postpartum cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is defined by acute heart failure in the late stages of pregnancy to a few months postpartum. Cardiogenic shock in PPCM, though rare, can be life-threatening, often requiring support with mechanical circulatory support devices. We present a case of 37-year-old Caucasian female who developed cardiogenic shock within 24 hours of the delivery of her twins. The echocardiogram demonstrated severe biventricular failure which necessitated biventricular device placement and support with a CentriMag® centrifugal pump. This biventricular support was employed, using a single-circuit CentriMag® pump, using a ‘Y’ connection which made weaning from right-sided support and conversion to univentricular support easier and feasible. The patient recovered four weeks later and was explanted off the CentriMag® support and did well. This technology allows for the CentriMag® to be considered as an early option for biventricular support in the treatment and management of these patients as a bridge to recovery.

Delivering obstetrical critical care in developing nations

Obstetrical critical care has not been able to achieve the same level of peaks in developing nations like India, as in the western countries. Numerous factors, including clinical and economical, have played a major role in widening the gap of quality care delivery in severely ill obstetric patients, between the two extreme worlds. Moreover, this wide gap can be, to a large extent, attributable to the lower literacy rates, paucity of research in obstetrical critical care, poverty, lack of awareness, and the sociocultural and behavioral factors prevalent in these developing nations. The most common indication for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission of such patients throughout the world is hemorrhage, both antepartum and postpartum. Hypertensive disorders, pre-eclampsia, and its related complications are also major contributory factors for such admissions. The pattern of the disease necessitating such admissions influences maternal mortality to a great extent. The present article reviews the most common indications of obstetrical admissions to the ICU, the challenges and obstacles in the treatment of severely ill obstetric patients, their possible outcome in the developing nations, room for improvement, and the need for a change in the system for better delivery of critical care obstetrical services.

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.

A Case of Cardiac Arrest Caused by Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Many women experience dyspnoea, orthopnoea, and peripheral oedema during pregnancy, and diagnosing cardiac problem is confounded by these signs and symptoms of normal pregnancy. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare life-threatening cardiomyopathy of unknown aetiology that occurs between the last month of pregnancy and the first 5 months postpartum in previously healthy woman. Multiparity, twins, advanced maternal age, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and black race are known risk factors. The course of PPCM can range from readily treatable to acutely fatal. We present a lady with dyspnoea in the peripartum period admitted in cardiac arrest as a result of PPCM.

A serious complication in the puerperium: peripartum cardiomyopathy

Two women, aged 27, presented with different symptoms shortly after giving birth to their first child. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) was diagnosed. PPCM is a rare form of cardiac failure occurring late in pregnancy or in the postpartum period. Many women experience dyspnoea, fatigue, and pedal oedema in the last month of pregnancy or postpartum, symptoms which are identical to early congestive heart failure. Therefore, the diagnosis of PPCM requires vigilance. A high mortality rate and overall poor clinical outcome has been reported in a high percentage of these patients. Subsequent pregnancies remain controversial. (Neth Heart J 2008;16:415-8.).

CT of pregnancy-related complications

During pregnancy, the risk of radiation exposure to the fetus is increased so that more than the usual benefit is necessary to justify computed tomography (CT; or other radiation exposure) than in non-pregnant patients. In the setting of a life-threatening illness, CT may be indicated to assess for potentially fatal complications such as hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome. After delivery, patients rarely develop serious problems requiring radiologic evaluation. When indicated, however, CT may be invaluable in making the diagnosis or determining the severity of peri- and post-partum complications, including uterine perforation, hemorrhage, endometritis, thrombophlebitis, and abscess formation. At times, CT may be the first to uncover conditions, such as post-partum cardiomyopathy, and heart failure, which are usually diagnosed by other modalities but may explain the symptoms for which the study was ordered. In some centers, CT pulmonary angiography represents the standard of care to diagnose pulmonary thromboembolism. In this article, we illustrate the spectrum of peri-partum and post-partum complications on CT to familiarize the radiologist with the CT features of these potentially life-threatening pregnancy-related complications.

Pregnancy-Associated Congestive Heart Failure in a Cat

A 4-year-old, late-term pregnant Himalayan queen was diagnosed with biventricular congestive heart failure characterized by pleural effusion and pulmonary edema. A cesarean section was performed, resulting in the birth of four live kittens, with one surviving to discharge. Congestive heart failure resolved rapidly following surgery. The queen remained asymptomatic for 9 years postoperatively. Volume expansion secondary to pregnancy was thought to result in cardiovascular volume overload and subsequent congestive heart failure.

[Peripartum cardiomyopathy]

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare and under recognized form of dilated cardiomyopathy, defined as a heart failure in the last month of pregnancy or in the first five months post-partum with absence of determinable cause for cardiac failure and absence of demonstrable heart disease. The incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy ranges from 1 in 1300 to 1 in 15,000 pregnancy. Advanced maternal age, multiparity, twin births, preeclampsia and black race are known risk factors. The etiology of peripartum cardiomyopathy remains unknown but viral, autoimmune or idiopathic myocarditis are highly suggested. The clinical presentation on patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy is similar to that of patients with systolic heart failure. The treatment is based on drugs for sympyomatic control. Studies in graeter populations are need to determine the role of immunosupressive treatment. About half patients of peripartum cardiomyopathy recover. The left ventricular ejection fraction and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter are statistically significant prognostic factors. The risk of developing peripartum cardiomyopathy in subsequent pregnancies remains high. The place of dobutamine stress test in counseling the patients who desire pregnancy must be more studied.