Maternal cardiac Flashcards
1
Q
What is NYHA (New York Heart Association) class 1?
A
No cardiac symptoms
2
Q
What is NYHA (New York Heart Association) class II?
A
Cardiac symptoms with greater than normal activity (e.g., carrying packages)
3
Q
What is NYHA (New York Heart Association) class III?
A
Cardiac symptoms with normal activity (e.g., getting dressed)
4
Q
What is NYHA (New York Heart Association) class IV?
A
Cardiac symptoms with bedrest
5
Q
With which two NYHA classes is pregnancy not advised?
A
NYHA 3-4
6
Q
How does cardiac dysfunction present?
A
Fatigue, limited activity, palpitations, tachycardia, SOB, chest pain, dyspnea on exertion, cyanosis
7
Q
What 4 cardiac conditions are contraindications to pregnancy?
A
Pulmonary hypertension
Severe ventricular dysfunction
Aortic root dilation (>4cm)
Severe left-sided obstructive lesions
8
Q
While cardiac disease complicates 1-4% of pregnancies, it accounts for what % of maternal mortality?
A
Up to 25%
9
Q
For women with congenital heart disease, what is the risk of fetal transmission?
A
5% (from 8/1000 background risk)
10
Q
What features of pregnancy physiology can exacerbate cardiac disease?
A
Increased intravascular volume
Hypercoagulability
Decreased SVR
11
Q
What are the general guidelines for pregnancy management in women with cardiac disease?
A
Relative bedrest Treat other medical conditions Multidisciplinary approach Monitor fetal growth q 4-6w NST >34w
12
Q
What are the general guidelines for labor management in women with cardiac disease?
A
Lateral decubitus position EpiduralO2 \+/- Endocarditis prophylaxis Avoid hypotension (keep women ?wetter?) C/S for obstetric indications
13
Q
While most cardiac conditions benefit from relative hypervolemia and relative hypotension intrapartum, what is the exception?
A
Mitral stenosis
14
Q
Why is fluid overload (ie post-partum autotransfusion) bad for mitral stenosis?
A
The associated restricted LV filling can lead to pulmonary edema
15
Q
What are the indications for c/s with maternal cardiac disease?
A
Aortic root dilation >4cm
Maternal Coumadin
Recent MI
Severe aortic stenosis
16
Q
Which cardiac patients/diagnoses may benefit from invasive monitoring in labor?
A
Women with preload dependent conditions (aortic stenosis, PHTN)
17
Q
Should women with prospthetic cardiac valves receive endocarditis prophylaxis?
A
Yes (during endothelialization)
18
Q
After what time period after repair of CHD with prosthetic material should women receive endocarditis prophylaxis with delivery?
A
6 months
19
Q
Does completely repaired CHD (with repair >6m ago) require endocarditis prophylaxis?
A
No
20
Q
Does unrepaired cyanotic CHD require endocarditis prophylaxis?
A
Yes
21
Q
If your patient had repair of CHD with prosthetic material remotely but there are residual defects, should they receive endocarditis prophylaxis?
A
Yes
22
Q
How do we manage a patient with prior infective endocarditis in labor?
A
With endocarditis prophylaxis
23
Q
When endocarditis prophylaxis is indicated, what antibiotic is used?
A
Ampicillin 2g IV
24
Q
For PCN allergic women who need endocarditis prophylaxis, what antibiotics can be used?
A
clindamycin, cefazolin, cetriaxone
25
Is there an ACOG resource to guide endocarditis prophylaxis?
Yes - committee opinion 421, Antibiotics prophylaxis for infective endocarditis
26
What is the workup for palpitations?
Thyroid function
Rule out drugs/caffeine/tobacco
EKG
Echo
27
Are PACs and PVCs more common in pregnancy and typically benign?
Yes
28
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with isolated VSD, repaired or unrepaired (high, moderate, or low)?
Low, <1%
29
When you have a patient with a long-standing large VSD, what should you rule out prior to becoming pregnant?
Pulmonary hypertension
30
Why is decreased SVR bad with pulmonary HTN caused by a VSD?
If pulmonary pressures exceed systemic pressures, the typical L-> R shunt can reverse, resulting in cyanosis
31
How should patients with VSD be managed intrapartum?
Avoid fluid overload
32
How is pulmonary hypertension defined? (What peak pulmonary artery pressures and mean PA pressures?)
Pulmonary artery pressure >30 mmHg, or mean pulmonary artery pressure >25 mmHg
33
What % of women with PHTN on echo have a normal pulm artery cath? (ie. What is the false + rate of a TTE?)
30%
34
What is thought to cause the delayed PP death in pulm HTN?
Loss of pregnancy associated hormones and increased pulm vascular resistance
35
Why is hypotension dangerous with PHTN?
Pulmonary perfusion depends on preload
36
Are patients with PHTN better managed wet or dry?
Wet (to avoid hypotension and decreased preload)
37
How is inhaled NO helpful in PHTN?
Inhaled NO selectively reduces pulmonary vascular resistance while sparing SVR (maintaining preload)
38
What are the goals for medical management of pulmonary HTN (think PVR and ventricular function)?
Avoid increasing pulmonary vascular resistance
Maintain RV preload
Maintain RV contractility
39
What medication is used in the treatment of pulmonary HTN by decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance?
Inhaled NO (which causes selective vasodilation of the pulmonary vascular bed)
40
What is the maternal mortality associated with pulmonary HTN?
17-28%
41
What is the ideal mode of delivery for patients with pulmonary HTN?
Vaginal
42
What are 4 genetic causes of dilated aortic roots?
Marfans
Ehlers-Danlos
Loeys-Dietz
Turner syndrome
43
When is aortic root repair recommended (what dilation, and rate of dilation)?
Repair outside of pregnancy is recommended for dilation >5.0 cm, or a rapidly dilating dilation (>0.5 cm per year)
44
Does pregnancy accelerate pathologic aortic root dilation?
Yes
45
What medication is used in pregnancy to reduce strain on the ascending aorta and reduce the rate of aortic dilation, ie in cases of Marfan's?
B-blockade
46
When is vaginal delivery safe for a patient with Marfan's?
With epidural, aortic root <4cm, and assisted second stage
47
What is the mortality associated with Marfan's if aortic root is <4cm?
<1%
48
What is the risk of aortic dissection or death associated with Marfan's if aortic root is >4cm?
20-50%
49
How should we evaluate patients with Marfan's (or FH of Marfan's) on initial presentation (cardiac, ophtho)?
Echocardiogram
| Slit lamp study for ectopia lentis
50
How should we follow patients with Marfan's in pregnancy?
Serial evaluation of the aortic root by echo
B-blockade
Avoid HTN
51
What spinal anomaly is present in 90% of pt with Marfans that may affect epidural placement?
Dural ectasia (widening of the dural sac at the lumbar spine)
52
Which genetic condition is associated with aortic dissection at diameters smaller than Marfan's?
Loeys-Dietz
53
What non-genetic conditions predispose women to aortic dissection?
Bicuspid aortic valve
CHTN
Aortic coarctation
54
What is the pregnancy outcome with corrected asymptomatic aortic coarctation?
Good
55
When is aortic coarctation associated with increased risk for maternal mortality
With aneurysmal dilation and associated cardiac disease
56
How should cases of aortic coarctation be managed in labor?
Avoid hypotension and bradycardia
57
In general, how is cardiomyopathy treated?
```
Oxygen
Diuretics
B-blockers (to avoid tachycardia)
Vasodilators
Inotropes (digoxin)
Anticoagulation
```
58
What principles should guide intrapartum management of hypertrophic CM?
Avoidance of hypotension, hypovolemia, and tachycardia
59
How is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy inherited?
AD (with variable penetrance)
60
What is the classic echo finding in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Asymmetric LV hypertrophy
61
What physiologic changes in pregnancy result in worsening cardiac function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Decreased SVR worsens outflow obstruction, and tachycardia decreases diastolic filling time -> decreases cardiac output
62
Do young asymptomatic women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy tolerate pregnancy well?
Yes
63
With hypertrophic CM, at what LV gradient do patients become symptomatic?
30 mmHg
64
With hypertrophic CM, at what LV gradient are patients at risk for heart failure and sudden death?
100 mmHg
65
What are the causes of dilated cardiomyopathy?
```
Myocarditis
Ischemia
CHTN
Alcohol
Familial
```
66
With dilated CM, what ejection fraction is concerning for adverse outcome?
<40%
67
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is defined as new onset left ventricular dysfunction (EF <45%) at what time points relative to delivery?
1 mo prior to delivery and 5 mos post-partum
68
When, relative to delivery, does peripartum CM most commonly occur?
2 months postpartum
69
What % of peripartum cardiomyopathy cases occur before delivery?
10%
70
What are the risk factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy?
```
Age>30
Obesity
CHTN
Multiparity
Multiples
Terbutaline
Preeclampsia
Low socioeconomic status
African American race
```
71
What is the mortality associated with peripartum CM?
25-50%
72
What % of patients fully recover from peripartum CM?
35-50%
73
What are poor prognostic factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy (LV size, EF, and status at 6 months)?
Large LV EDV and EF <30% at initial diagnosis, and failure of LV function to normalize by 6 months
74
What % of women with peripartum CM and EF <25% will require a transplant?
57%
75
What is the recurrence risk of peripartum CM?
35%
76
What is the medical management of peripartum CM?
```
Inotropic therapy (digoxin)
Afterload reduction (hydralazine +/- B-blockade)
ACE inhibitors (postpartum)
Anticoagulation (for EF <35%)
Bromocriptine
```
77
When in pregnancy is the risk of MI the greatest?
In the first days post-partum (6x increase)
78
Does pregnancy increase the risk of MI?
Yes (by 2-4x)
79
Which study identifies ischemia and ventricular dysfunction in patients at risk for MI?
Stress echo
80
Which cardiac enzymes should not be ordered in the peripartum state to assess for cardiac ischemia?
CK (as CK is increased 2x in labor)
| only TROPONINs are helpful
81
How can we treat stable angina in pregnancy?
Nitrates
Ca channel blockers
B-blockers
82
What is "stable" angina?
Chest pain with exertion that resolves with rest and nitrates
83
How do we treat ischemic heart disease (MI)?medications and other therapy?
```
Morphine
Low dose Aspirin
Nitrates
B-blockers
Ca channel blockers
Heparin
Coronary angioplasty
```
84
If cardiac catheterization is indicated for MI, what should you tell your IR colleagues is the max dose of radiation considered safe in pregnancy?
1 Rad
85
Is thrombolysis considered a safe management option for MI in pregnancy?
No ? use only if no other options
86
How should women with history of MI be counseled on future pregnancy?
Best not to become pregnant! (but may be considered if EF and coronaries are normal one year s/p MI)
87
What are the main causes of aortic stenosis in developed countries?
Bicuspid aortic valve
88
What are the main causes of aortic stenosis in developing countries?
Rheumatic heart disease
89
Women with aortic stenosis can expect good pregnancy outcomes if which criteria are met (what symptoms, what testing, what drop in aortic valve peak pressure)?
Asymptomatic
Normal EKG/stress test
Good EF
Aortic valve peak pressure drop <80 mmHg
90
When should pt with aortic stenosis undergo repair prior to childbearing (what aortic valve peak gradient, and what EF)?
Peak gradient >50 mmHg (possibly >30 mmHg), or EF <30%
91
If aortic valve replacement is required during pregnancy, what is the risk for fetal death with ECMO
20%
92
What intervention may be used to temporize patients with severe aortic stenosis during pregnancy in anticipation of valve replacement?
Balloon valvuloplasty
93
At what aortic diameter do people become symptomatic from aortic stenosis?
<1 cm
94
What are the potential bad outcomes associated with aortic stenosis
Angina, MI, syncope, sudden death
95
Why is it important to avoid hypovolemia with aortic stenosis
In aortic stenosis, cardiac output is preload dependent. Hypovolemia causes decreases CO, and inadequate coronary/cerebral perfusion
96
Why is cardiac output fixed in aortic stenosis
Outflow obstruction leads to LV hypertrophy and subsequent poor filling (diastolic dysfunction)
97
Why is the fixed cardiac output of aortic stenosis dangerous in pregnant states of increased preload and HR?
Without the ability to increase output, coronary and carotid perfusion decreases
98
Is it better to keep pt with aortic stenosis wet or dry?
Wet (as preload dependent)
99
What effect does the fixed cardiac output of aortic stenosis have on fetal growth?
10%
100
How is aortic stenosis managed in pregnancy
Bedrest and B-clockers (to decrease HR and increase LV ejection time to maximize coronary filling)
101
What is the main cause of mitral stenosis?
Rheumatic heart disease
102
How does mitral stenosis present?
Pulmonary edema and a-fib
103
How is mitral stenosis treated in pregnancy?
Restricted activity
| Diuretics B-blockers (rate control)
104
Women with mitral stenosis but valve area greater than what value have a good outcome?
>1.5 cm2
105
How does mitral stenosis lead to a fixed cardiac output?
Prevention of LV filling
106
Why should patients with mitral stenosis be managed on the ?dry side
With fluid overload, CO cannot increase, and pulmonary edema can result
107
When in pregnancy is mitral stenosis likely to decompensate, due to the peak maternal blood volume levels?
30-32w
108
Why should tachycardia be avoided in patients with mitral stenosis?
Poor LV filling may result -> hypotension
109
When should B-blockers be given to pt with mitral stenosis to prevent tachycardia-associated poor CO?
HR of 90-100
110
At what mitral valve area should pt be offered pre-pregnancy intervention?
<1.2 cm (or if pt is symptomatic)
111
Can balloon mitral valvuloplasty be performed in pregnancy for failed medical management?
Yes
112
What is the maternal mortality associated with mitral stenosis?
5%
113
What types of mechanical heart valves are the highest risk?
Ist generation: Starr-Edwards and Bjork-Shiley in Mitral position
114
Do women with mechanical heart valves need prophylactic or therapeutic anticoagulation during pregnancy?
Therapeutic (with weekly blood levels)
115
Which types of heart valves require anticoagulation in pregnancy ? bioprosthetic or mechanical?
Mechanical
116
Why do mechanical heart valves require anticoagulation?
Due to the shearing effects of the valve on circulating blood (which can result in platelet activation and thrombus formation)
117
When using heparin for anticoagulation, when can an epidural be placed after the last dose?
4-6h (good to check a PTT first)
118
Aside from mechanical heart valves, which cardiac conditions may require anticoagulation?
Afib and PHTN
119
What is the therapeutic range for heparin?
Heparin: PTT 60-80 sec.
120
What is the therapeutic range for Coumadin, and Lovenox?
Coumadin: INR 2-3.
121
What is the therapeutic ranges for Lovenox (peak and trough)?
Peak (4h after 4th dose) anti-Xa 0.8-1.2. Trough 0.6-0.7
122
What is the risk of warfarin teratogenicity (%) with first trimester exposure?
10-15%
123
How does warfarin teratogenicity present after first trimester exposure?
Nasal hypoplasiaOptic atrophyDigital anomaliesMental impairment
124
Is Coumadin or heparin a better at preventing thromboembolism in women with a mechanical valve?
Coumadin
125
To minimize both teratogenicity and risk for VTE with mechanical heart valves, how should women be anticoagulated during pregnancy?
Heparin in first trimester and >36w, and Coumadin from 12-36w
126
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with L->R shunt with pulm HTN (high, moderate, or low)?
High >25%
127
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with Eisenmenger?s (high, moderate, or low)?
High >25%
128
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with Uncorrected aortic coarctation with proximal aortic dilation (high, moderate, or low)?
High >25%
129
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with left heart obstructive lesions like severe aortic stenosis and hypertrophic CM (high, moderate, or low)?
High >25%
130
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with mild-mod aortic stenosis (high, moderate, or low)?
Moderate (5-15%)
131
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with a systemic right ventricle (high, moderate, or low)?
Moderate (5-15%)
132
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with well functioning Fontan palliation for hypoplastic ventricles (high, moderate
Moderate (5-15%)
133
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with an isolated ASD or VSD, repaired or unrepaired (high, moderate, or low)?
Low (<1%)
134
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with pulmonic or tricuspid valve disease (high, moderate, or low)?
Low (<1%)
135
What test can be recommended before conception to predict clinical outcome in pregnancy in moms with congenital heart disease?
Exercise stress test and echo
136
What is the indication for a FONTAN procedure
Any anatomic abnormality in which a two-ventricle repair is unfeasible (tricuspid or pulm atresia, hypoplastic heart)
137
What is the Fontan procedure (ie what vascular structures does it connect, and divert)?
From the RA (systemic venous return) to the pulmonary arteries, bypassing the RV
138
What is the risk of maternal death in asymptomatic women s/p Fontan with good vent function and no pulm HTN?
2%
139
What are the 4 features of TOF?
VSD
Overriding aorta
RVH
Pulmonary stenosis
140
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with uncorrected cyanotic defects like TOF (high, moderate, or low)?
Moderate (5-15%) (high with severe pulm regurg or RV dysfunction)
141
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with repaired TOF with normal RV function and competent pulmonic valve (high, moderate, or low)?
Low (<1%)
142
What is the risk of complication or death in pregnancy with palliated TOF with pulm regurg and RV dysfunction (high, moderate, or low)?
Moderate (5-15%)
143
What complications are seen with repaired TOF in pregnancy?
SVT, right heart failure
144
Left sided obstruction = mitral valve area less than?
2 cm^2
145
Left sided obstruction = aortic valve area less than?
1.5 cm^2
146
Left sided obstruction = peak LV outflow tract gradient above?
30 mm Hg
147
What 4 CV changes are likely to be poorly tolerated by a pregnant woman with cardiac disease?
1. The 50-percent increase in blood volume and cardiac output by the early third trimester
2. Further fluctuations in volume and cardiac output in the peripartum period (and postpartum increase from "auto transfusion")
3. A decline in systemic vascular resistance, reaching a nadir in the second trimester, and then rising to 20 percent below normal by late pregnancy (can allow for a L to R shunt)
4. Hypercoagulability, which is of special importance in women requiring anticoagulation before pregnancy with coumarin derivatives.
148
What are the drawbacks of bioprosthetic heart valves?
-Valvular dysfunction, deterioration, or failure are common, and develop in 5 to 25 percent of pregnancies. -Bioprostheses are not as durable as mechanical ones, and valve replacement averages every 10 to 15 years.
149
What is the normal mitral valve surface area?
4.0 cm^2
150
At what surface area do symptoms result from mitral stenosis?
2.5 cm^2
151
What is the most prominent symptom of mitral stenosis? Why?
Dypsnea due pulmonary venous hypertension and edema.
| Fatigue, palpitations, cough, and hemoptysis are also common
152
How is peripartum cardiomyopathy defined?
This is defined as cardiomyopathy (with EF <45%) occurring during last four weeks of pregnancy or within five months postpartum (peaks at 2 months postpartum), without other cause.
153
What are risk factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy?
```
Older maternal age
multiparity
African-American race
multiple gestations
hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
```
154
How is peripartum cardiomyopathy managed?
Serial echocardiography
digoxin
diuretics
afterload reduction—hydralazine and/or beta-blockers in pregnancyACE inhibitors postpartum
anticoagulation if EF is <35%,
possible intrapartum PAC
The addition of bromocriptine to standard heart failure therapy appears to improve left ventricular EF and a composite clinical outcome in women with acute severe peripartum cardiomyopathy, but the number of patients studied was too small to make any recommendation
155
How should women with peripartum cardiomyopathy be counseled about future pregnancies?
- Persistent dilated cardiomyopathy with abnormal EF predicts a high risk (19%) of mortality and symptoms of cardiac failure (44%) with subsequent gestation, and should be discouraged.
- Even women with “normal” echo- cardiograms (EF > 45–50%) after recovering from peripartum cardiomyopathy can have persistent “subclinical” low contractile reserve (61), with up to 21% risk of developing symptoms of CHF, but no mortality reported in one study.
- Of women with EF < 25%, 57% require a cardiac transplant or are on a transplant list because of progressive symptoms of heart failure at a mean of 3.4 years of follow-up postpartum.
156
Risk of VSD in fetus if mother affected?
10-15%
157
Risk of aortic stenosis in fetus if mother affected?
15-18%
158
Risk of pulmonary stenosis in fetus if mother affected?
6-7%
159
Risk of ASD in fetus if mother affected?
5-10%
160
Risk of aortic coarctation in fetus if mother affected?
15%
161
Risk of Marfan in fetus if mother affected?
50%
162
Risk of PDA in fetus if mother affected?
4%
163
Risk of IHSS (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) in fetus if mother affected?
50% (autosomal dominant disorder)
164
What does a Swan-Ganz catheter (flow directed pulmonary artery catheter) measure?
```
Pressures in the:
Right atrium
Right ventricle
Pulmonary artery
Can estimate left atrial pressure by measuring pulmonary artery wedge pressure
```
165
In what clinical situations is a Swan-Ganz useful?
Shock
Resp failure
Cardiac failure
166
How is pulmonary artery wedge pressure measured?
- A balloon is inflated at the tip of the catheter, allowing the balloon to occlude a branch of the PA, and then measure the pressure during occlusion.
- This creates a static column of blood between the catheter tip and the left atrium. Pressure at both ends of the column equilibrates, after which the pressure at the distal end of the catheter is equal to the pressure of the left atrium.
- The pressure at the distal end of the catheter is termed the pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP), which is also known as the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure or pulmonary artery occlusion pressure
167
What is the range of normal PAWP?
6-15 mm Hg, with a mean of 9 mm Hg
168
What exactly is PAWP estimating?
The PAWP usually estimates the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (ie, the left ventricular preload) if there is no obstruction to flow between the left atrium and left ventricle.
169
Is ASD in young women associated with heart failure?
No, so diuretics & extreme limitation of IV fluids are not warranted. A small percentage of pts have atrial flutter or fibrillation.
170
What are possible complications of a large uncorrected ASD?
Chronic afib
RV dysfunction
Pulmonary hypertension
Pregnancy not advised if these complications are present
171
What is Eisenmenger syndrome?
A congenital communication between the systemic and pulmonary circulations and increased pulmonary vascular resistance, either to systemic level (so that there is no shunt across the defect) or exceeding systemic (allowing right-to- left shunting).
The most common underlying defect is a large VSD, followed in prevalence by a large PDA.
Eisenmenger pathophysiology is less common in ASD.
The woman with Eisenmenger syndrome must be informed that pregnancy carries a mortality risk of about 50%
172
What is tetralogy of Fallot?
1. VSD
2. Pulmonary stenosis
3. Aorta overrides the VSD
4. RVH
173
What does the repair of TOF involve? Is it curative?
Repair = Closing the VSD and relieving the pulmonic stenosis. But not curative bc pts can still have arrhythmia or conduction defects requiring pacemaker or defibrillator, or can still have partial defects like continued RV obstruction or pulmonic regurg.
174
What is Ebstein anomaly?
Malformation of the tricuspid valve - the septal leaflet is displaced apically and the anterior leaflet is abnormally large in size.
Deformed valve may be incompetent or stenotic.
Freq associated with WPW.
