A retrospective survey of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes for parturients with congenital heart disease

Maternal Cardiac Disease and Perinatal Outcomes in a Single Tertiary Care Center

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to compare the perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with heart disease and a healthy pregnant control group, as well as the maternal and newborn outcomes of pregnant women with congenital heart disease and acquired heart disease.

MATERIAL METHOD

Pregnant women with heart disease and healthy control pregnant women were included in this retrospective study. Sociodemographic data of all patients included in the study were obtained from electronic records. Perinatal outcomes of all patients were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 258 pregnant women were included in the study. While 129 pregnant women were diagnosed with heart disease, 129 patients were low-risk pregnant women. Preeclampsia (p=0.004) and cesarean section (p=0.01) rates were higher in pregnant women with heart disease compared to healthy pregnant women. Compared with healthy pregnant women, pregnant women with heart disease had a lower birth weight (p=0.003), a higher fetal growth restriction (FGR) rate (p=0.036), lower birth percentiles (p=0.002), a lower 5-minute APGAR (p=0.0001), a higher neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rate (p=0.001), and a longer NICU stay rate (p=0.001). The mean gestational age at birth of pregnant women with congenital heart disease was higher than that of those with acquired heart disease (p=0.017).

CONCLUSION

It was observed that all maternal heart diseases were associated with adverse perinatal outcomes compared to healthy pregnant women. In this series, perinatal adverse outcomes of pregnant women with congenital and acquired heart disease did not differ.

Mode of delivery and peripartum outcome in women with heart disease according to the ESC guidelines: an Italian multicenter study

INTRODUCTION

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines (GL) provide indications on the mode of delivery in women with heart disease. However available data suggests that the rate of Cesarean Delivery (CD) is high and widely variable among such patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the degree of adherence to the ESC recommendations among women delivering in four tertiary maternity services in Italy and how this affects the maternal and neonatal outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective multicenter cohort study including pregnant women with heart disease who gave birth between January 2014 and July 2020. Composite adverse maternal outcome (CAM) was defined by the occurrence of one or more of the following: major postpartum hemorrhage, thrombo-embolic or ischemic event, de novo arrhythmia, heart failure, endocarditis, aortic dissection, need for re-surgery, sepsis, maternal death. Composite Adverse Neonatal outcome (CAN) was defined as cord arterial pH <7.00, APGAR <7 at 5 min, admission to the intensive care unit, and neonatal death. We compared the incidence of CAM and CAN between the cases with planned delivery in accordance (group "ESC consistent") or in disagreement (group "ESC not consistent") with the ESC GL.

RESULTS

Overall, 175 women and 181 liveborn were included. A higher frequency of CAN was found when delivery was not planned accordingly to the ESC guidelines [("ESC consistent" 9/124 (7.2%) vs "ESC not consistent" 13/57 (22.8%) p = 0.002 OR 3.74 (CI 95% 1.49-9.74) , while the occurrence of CAM was comparable between the two groups. At logistic regression analysis, the gestational age at delivery was the only parameter independently associated with the occurrence of CAN (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Among pregnant women with heart disease, deviating from the ESC guidelines scheduling cesarean delivery does not seem to improve maternal outcomes and it is associated with worse perinatal outcomes, mainly due to lower gestational age at birth.

Anaesthetic Management and Peripartum Outcomes for Parturients With Valvular Heart Disease in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Pakistan

Introduction Parturients with valvular heart disease are at increased risk of maternal cardiac and neonatal complications. We aim to observe maternal cardiac complications in relation to the type of anaesthesia and mode of delivery as our primary objective and neonatal complications as the secondary outcomes. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all parturients with valvular heart disease undergoing delivery over a five-year period at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. to identify maternal cardiac and neonatal complications occurring during the peripartum period. Results Of 83 patients with valvular heart disease, 79.5% had rheumatic heart disease. Caesarian section (CS) was performed in 79.5% of patients and regional anaesthesia (RA) was given to 62.1%. Patients with cardiac risk index > 2 were delivered by CS and 64.5% received RA. One maternal and three neonatal deaths were reported with a complication event rate of 9.64% in parturients and 40.9% in neonates. Incidence of maternal cardiac events was one in 17 (5.8%) for vaginal deliveries versus seven in 66 (10.6 %) for CS. Maternal events for CS under RA was 5/66 (7.5 %) vs 2/66 (3%) under general anaesthesia. The incidence of peripartum maternal cardiac events when stratified by severity of cardiac disease was similar to a previously derived cardiac risk index for pregnant women with cardiac disease with no statistical difference in the adverse events rate from the estimated rates (p-value= 0.42). Conclusion Elective CS with RA was a common approach for high-risk parturients; however, the benefits cannot be ascertained. Despite low maternal and neonatal mortality, significant maternal cardiac and neonatal complications were observed.

Contemporary pregnancy outcomes for women with moderate and severe congenital heart disease

Background

Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are surviving into adulthood, with more undergoing pregnancy.

Methods

Retrospective review of the Vizient database from 2017-2019 for women 15-44 years old with moderate, severe or no CHD and vaginal delivery or caesarean section. Demographics, hospital outcomes and costs were compared.

Results

There were 2,469,117 admissions: 2,467,589 with no CHD, 1277 with moderate and 251 with severe CHD. Both CHD groups were younger than no CHD, there were fewer white race/ethnicity in the no CHD group and more women with Medicare in both CHD groups compared to no CHD. With increasing CHD severity there was an increase in length of stay, ICU admission rates and costs. There were also higher rates of complications, mortality and caesarean section in the CHD groups.

Conclusion

Pregnant women with CHD have more problematic pregnancies and understanding this impact is important to improve management and decrease healthcare utilization.

Risk Factors and Outcomes Associated With Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Maternal Congenital Heart Disease

Background

Among women with congenital heart disease (CHD), risk factors for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and the association of HDP with adverse outcomes are unknown.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for HDP among women with and without CHD and to assess the association of HDP with adverse events.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included the first live birth for each woman who was pregnant in Alberta, Canada, between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2018. The prevalence of HDP among women with and without CHD was compared. Multivariable models were used to determine the independent associations between maternal characteristics and HDP and to assess the strength of associations between HDP and CHD with adverse events.

Results

Of the total birth events, 0.6% (N = 2,575) occurred in women with CHD. HDP were more common among women with CHD (11.2% vs 8.1%, P < 0.0001). Chronic hypertension and diabetes mellitus were strongly associated with HDP among women with CHD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.95-7.03; and aOR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.48-7.49, respectively). Coarctation of the aorta was the only CHD lesion independently associated with increased risk for HDP (aOR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.02-3.02). HDP, as opposed to CHD, was more strongly associated with having a complicated delivery admission, preterm delivery, and small for gestational age infant.

Conclusions

HDP were more common among women with CHD. The strongest risk factors for HDP among women with CHD were acquired. The presence of HDP, rather than CHD, was more strongly associated with certain adverse outcomes.

Incidence of pre-eclampsia and other perinatal complications among pregnant women with congenital heart disease: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

It has been proposed recently that pre-eclampsia (PE) may originate from maternal cardiac maladaptation rather than primary placental insult. As congenital heart disease (CHD) is associated with reduced adaptation to the hemodynamic needs of pregnancy, it is hypothesized that women with CHD have an increased risk of PE. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the risk of PE in pregnant women with CHD.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed to identify relevant studies published in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese or German, with no time restrictions, using databases such as PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies (prospective or retrospective cohorts) of pregnant women with a history of CHD were sought. The main outcome was the incidence of PE (including eclampsia and HELLP syndrome). For quality assessment of the included studies, two reviewers assessed independently the risk of bias. For the meta-analysis, the incidence of PE in pregnancies (those beyond 20 weeks' gestation) was calculated using single-proportion analysis by random-effects modeling (weighted by inverse variance). Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the χ² (Cochran's Q), tau² and I² statistics. Subgroup analysis was performed, and meta-regression was used to assess the influence of several covariates on the pooled results.

RESULTS

A total of 33 studies were included in the meta-analysis, including 40 449 women with CHD and a total of 40 701 pregnancies. The weighted incidence of PE was 3.1% (95% CI, 2.2-4.0%), with true-effect heterogeneity of 93% according to I² , and no publication bias found. No difference was found in the weighted incidence of PE between studies including cyanotic CHD vs those excluding (or not reporting) cyanotic CHD (2.5% (95% CI, 1.6-3.4%) vs 4.1% (95% CI, 2.4-5.7%); P = 0.0923). Meta-regression analysis showed that the only cofactor that significantly influenced the incidence of PE in each study was the reported incidence of aortic stenosis; studies with a higher incidence of aortic stenosis had a higher incidence of PE (estimate: 0.0005; P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

We failed to demonstrate an incidence of PE above the expected baseline risk in women with CHD. This observation contradicts the theory of the cardiac origin of PE. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Pregnancies in Women With Congenital Heart Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Background

With advances in the treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD), more women with CHD survive childhood to reach reproductive age. The objective of this study was to evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies among women with CHD in the modern era.

Methods and Results

We conducted a meta‐analysis of peer‐reviewed literature published January 2007 through June 2019. Studies were included if they reported on maternal or fetal mortality and provided data by CHD lesion. Meta‐analysis was performed using random effect regression modeling using Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis (v3). CHD lesions were categorized as mild, moderate, and severe to allow for pooling of data across studies. Of 2200 articles returned by our search, 32 met inclusion criteria for this study. Overall, the rate of neonatal mortality was 1%, 3.1%, and 3.5% in mild, moderate, and severe lesions, respectively. There were too few maternal deaths in any group to pool data. The rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity among women with CHD increase with severity of lesion. Specifically, rates of maternal arrhythmia and heart failure, cesarean section, preterm birth, and small for gestational age neonate are all markedly increased as severity of maternal CHD increases.

Conclusions

In the modern era, pregnancy in women with CHD typically has a successful outcome in both mother and child. However, as maternal CHD severity increases, so too does the risk of numerous morbidities and neonatal mortality. These findings may help in counseling women with CHD who plan to become pregnant, especially women with severe lesions.

Anesthesia for Cesarean Section and Postpartum Cardiovascular Events in Congenital Heart Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the association between anesthetic technique and maternal and neonatal outcomes in parturients with congenital heart disease (CHD).

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational cohort study.

SETTING

An academic hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 263 consecutive parturients with CHD who underwent cesarean section from 1994 to 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The authors compared postpartum cardiovascular events (composite of heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmia, and thromboembolic complications) and neonatal outcomes (intubation and Apgar score <7 at one or five minutes) by anesthetic technique. Among 263 cesarean sections, general anesthesia was performed in 47 (17.9%) parturients and neuraxial anesthesia in 214 (81.3%) parturients. Cardiovascular events were more common in the general anesthesia group (n = 7; 14.9%) than in the neuraxial anesthesia group (n = 17; 7.9%). Generalized linear mixed models assuming a binomial distribution (ie, mixed-effects logistic regression), with a random intercept for each modified World Health Organization classification for maternal cardiovascular risk, revealed that general anesthesia was not significantly associated with cardiovascular events (odds ratio [OR], 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-3.29). In addition, general anesthesia was associated with composite neonatal outcomes (Apgar score <7 at one or five minutes or need for neonatal intubation; OR, 13.3; 95% CI, 5.52-32.0).

CONCLUSION

Anesthetic technique is not significantly associated with postpartum composite cardiovascular events. General anesthesia is significantly associated with increased need for neonatal intubation and lower Apgar scores.

Brain-type natriuretic peptide level in pregnant women with congenital heart disease predicts SGA offspring

BACKGROUND

Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) commonly experience complications related to CHD during pregnancy. The clinical features of neonates born to mothers with CHD, however, have not been fully investigated. The frequency of small for gestational age (SGA) is high in infants born to mothers with CHD, but the risk factors have not been examined sufficiently. Therefore, we analyzed the maternal features associated with SGA infants.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled pregnant women with repaired CHD and infants born to them at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital between April 2007 and March 2015. Eleven SGA (11%) and 91 non-SGA infants (89%) were included. On multivariate logistic regression, SGA infants were significantly more likely to be associated with a high maternal brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level (OR, 6.7; 95%CI: 1.3-34.5; P = 0.02) and maternal single ventricle disease (OR, 8.4; 95%CI:1.4-51.8; P = 0.02) than were non-SGA infants.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of SGA infants born to mothers with CHD was not high in this study. High BNP and maternal single ventricle disease, however, are independent predictors of SGA in infants.

Association of Adult Congenital Heart Disease With Pregnancy, Maternal, and Neonatal Outcomes

IMPORTANCE

With the help of medical advances, more women with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) are becoming pregnant. Adverse maternal, obstetric, and neonatal events occur more frequently in women with ACHD than in the general obstetric population. Adult congenital heart disease is heterogeneous, yet few studies have assessed whether maternal and neonatal outcomes differ across ACHD subtypes.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association of ACHD and its subtypes with pregnancy, maternal, and neonatal outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cross-sectional study used data from the Discharge Abstract Database, which contains information on all hospitalizations in Canada (except Quebec) from fiscal years 2001-2002 through 2014-2015. Discharge Abstract Database information was linked with maternal and infant hospital records across Canada. All women who gave birth in hospitals during the study period were included in the study. Data were analyzed from December 18, 2017, to March 22, 2019.

EXPOSURES

Women with ACHD were identified using diagnostic and procedural codes. Subtypes of ACHD were classified using the Anatomic and Clinical Classification of Congenital Heart Defects scheme.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Primary outcomes were defined a priori and included severe maternal morbidity (measured using the Maternal Morbidity Outcomes Indicator), neonatal morbidity and mortality (measured using the Neonatal Adverse Outcomes Indicator), ischemic placental disease, preterm birth, congenital anomalies, and small-for-gestational-age births. Absolute and relative rates of each outcome were calculated overall and by ACHD subtype. Logistic regression using generalized estimating equations assessed crude and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for each outcome in women with ACHD compared with women without ACHD after adjustment for comorbidities, mode of delivery, and study year.

RESULTS

The 2114 women with ACHD included in the analysis (mean [SD] age, 29.4 [5.7] years) had significantly higher odds of maternal morbidity (aOR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.2-3.4) and neonatal morbidity and mortality (aOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.6-2.1) compared with women without ACHD (n = 2 682 451). Substantial variation was observed between women with different subtypes of ACHD. For example, the aORs of preterm birth (<37 weeks) varied from 0.4 (95% CI, 0.4-0.5) for women with anomalies of atrioventricular junctions and valves to 4.7 (95% CI, 2.9-7.5) for women with complex anomalies of atrioventricular connections.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These results suggest that women with different subtypes of ACHD are not uniformly at risk for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Although some women with ACHD can potentially expect healthy pregnancies, it appears that clinical care should be modified to address the heightened risks of certain ACHD subtypes.

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery in a patient with cor triloculare biventriculare

BACKGROUND

Cor triloculare biventriculare accounts for approximately 0.31% of cases of congenital heart disease (CHD). Moreover, people with cor triloculare biventriculare always have shorter life spans, and cases of gestation are rare. There have been various related reports of cor triloculare biventriculare in recent years.

CASE PRESENTATION

We described an emergency cesarean section of a 30-year-old, 38-weeks-pregnant woman suffering from cardiac insufficiency and fetal distress. Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia was performed safely, and a male baby was smoothly delivered 10 min after the procedure without any adverse outcome on the mother or newborn. After surgery, we advised that the patient submit to an echocardiogram examination, which revealed the congenital heart disease cor triloculare biventriculare.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia was administered to a patient with cor triloculare biventricularethis with good effect, ensuring the patient's safety and meeting the need for emergency surgery.

The Evaluation of Applied Anaesthetic Techniques for Caesarean in Parturients with Cardiac Diseases: Retrospective Analysis

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the effects of anaesthetic technique on mother and newborn were investigated in a retrospective analysis of parturients with cardiac diseases undergoing Caesarean section between 2006-2012.

METHODS

Our hospital's medical information system records were analyzed, and we found 107 parturients with cardiac disease and were undergoing Caesarean section, and their demographic data and obstetric, anaesthetic, and neonatal record forms were inspected.

RESULTS

Fifty-three (49.5%) pregnant women received general anaesthesia, and 54 (50.5%) received regional anaesthesia (34 spinal, 19 epidural and 1 CSE) (p=0.05). Week of pregnancy was lower for the group of general anaesthesia (p=0.007). Among cardiac parturients, valvular lesion rates were higher (75.7%). The relationship between existing cardiac disease and anaesthetic management was not significant (p=0.28). However, we determined that parturients with higher NYHA (New York Heart Association) classifications had higher general anaesthesia rates. (p=0.001). A rate of 39% of 74 NYHA I patients were undergoing general anaesthesia; this rate was 64% for NYHA II and 100% for NYHA III. The patients with cardiac surgery or medical treatment history had higher general anaesthesia rates (p=0.009). Although the general anaesthesia group newborn weights were lower (p=0.03), there was no difference between groups for APGAR scores. With regard to postoperative complications and hospital stay, the groups were similar.

CONCLUSION

We determined that general and epidural rates in parturients with cardiac diseases were similar, general anaesthesia was preferred for parturients who had higher NYHA classifications and surgical or medical treatment history. We considered that general anaesthesia criteria should reduce the anaesthesia management of parturients with cardiac disease; epidural or CSE anaesthesia applications should increase according to the patient's physical state, haemodynamic parameters, and obstetric indications.

Umbilical cord blood acid-base status in pregnancy with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

The risk of fetal and neonatal complications is higher in pregnant women with congenital heart disease (CHD). It remains unknown whether umbilical cord blood gas values are different between pregnant women with CHD and healthy women undergoing elective cesarean section during combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. The purpose of the present study was to compare umbilical cord blood acid-base status and gas values in pregnant women with CHD vs. healthy pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean section during combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthesia.

METHODS

Patients with singleton pregnancy undergoing elective cesarean delivery under CSE anesthesia were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups: healthy pregnant women (group H) and pregnant with congenital heart disease (group CHD). Immediately after delivery, umbilical cord arterial blood sample and venous blood sample were collected and measured. The comparison between two groups was performed using grouped t-test.

RESULTS

Forty-four women in group H and 33 women in group CHD were analyzed finally. Umbilical arterial blood pH, base excess (BE) and HCO3 (-) (pH 7.29 ± 0.05, BE -1.4 ± 1.9 mmol/L, HCO3 (-) 21.5 ± 1.4 mmol/L) were significantly lower in pregnant women with CHD than in healthy pregnant women (pH 7.33 ± 0.03, BE -0.1 ± 2.1 mmol/L, HCO3 (-) 22.5 ± 1.4 mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS

The lower values of umbilical arterial blood pH, BE and HCO3 (-) were observed in pregnant women with CHD than in healthy women undergoing elective cesarean section during CSE anesthesia.

[Adults with congenital heart disease: treatment and medical problems]

By improvement of the medical care, children with congenital heart disease survive in much greater numbers: the figure of ACHD-patients in Germany is estimated up to 203,000 to 301,000. The need for a specialized care of these patients is accepted by the scientific societies, who introduced a certification for doctors and centers and created guidelines. The medical problems include imaging, treatment of arrhythmia, congestive heart failure and cyanosis, prophylaxis of infectious endocarditis, exercise and pregnancy. For the most frequent defects, indication for treatment and postoperative care is summarized.

Is vaginal delivery or caesarean section the safer mode of delivery in patients with adult congenital heart disease?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: is vaginal delivery or caesarean section (CS) the safer mode of delivery in patients with adult congenital heart disease? Of the 119 studies, 13 papers represented the best evidence on the topic. Recommendations are based on 29 262 patients. Those having undergone successful corrective or palliative cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease, in addition to patients with unoperated congenital heart disease are a high-risk obstetric population. Heart disease is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the USA and the UK. Traditionally, CS was regarded as the mode of delivery of choice for high-risk patients, but growing experience in this field has now made this advice appear controversial. Patients are stratified into high- and low-risk, depending on the degree of heart failure symptoms [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class]. All studies demonstrated adverse outcomes in ACHD patients compared with normal age-matched controls. This pertained to a higher overall risk of maternal cardiac death, neonatal death, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and longer hospital stay. On univariate regression analysis, the variables that imparted the highest risk to mother and foetus, were right ventricular failure, pulmonary regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension (P < 0.001). Induction of labour was deemed safe and was not associated with higher CS rates. There was no increase in maternal or neonatal complications in patients who were NYHA class I and II at labour. Patients who were NYHA class III and IV at labour had higher complication rates with adverse feto-maternal outcomes (P < 0.0001) and longer intensive care unit and hospital stay (Spearman's correlation 0.326, P = 0.007). The largest cohort from the USA (26 973 ACHD births) demonstrated that ventricular septal defect was associated with the highest risk of maternal death and complications (P < 0.05). The data would indicate that patients NYHA class I and II symptoms are suitable for VD. For most NYHA III and IV patients a trail of labour is safe with expedited delivery under good analgesic control as dictated by obstetric needs. Due to high complication risks, CS may be indicated in a proportion of patients.