Cardiac Problems in Pregnancy offers clinicians the most detailed and comprehensive guide to diagnosing and managing pregnancy-associated cardiovascular diseases currently available. Covering a wide spectrum of congenital and acquired cardiovascular conditions, its extensive contents examine diseases of the heart with an expert awareness of the implications of pregnancy and the attendant physiological changes it brings. Such guidance is vitally required in an age in which congenital and acquired heart diseases are the leading causes of non-obstetrical maternal morbidity and mortality. Featuring 36 new or extensively revised chapters, this fourth edition of the book complements coverage of the latest research and clinical advances with a complete and up-to-date bibliography of literature on pregnancy in women with cardiovascular conditions. It also serves as a practical, step-by-step companion for those caring for heart disease patients during pregnancy, labor, and the post-partum period. Contents include: Coverage of all elements of maternal cardiology Newly written chapters featuring fresh research and data Guidance on performing risk assessments and interventions both prior to and during gestation Explanations of a range of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to cardiovascular disease in pregnant patients Drawing on expertise from across the fields of cardiovascular medicine, obstetrics, anesthesiology, cardiac surgery, pharmacology, and clinical science, Cardiac Problems in Pregnancy is designed to give invaluable support to all medical professionals involved in maximizing the safety and success of cardiologically complex pregnancies.

A practical manual to aid the management of women with heart disease who are pregnant or who are considering pregnancy, Heart Disease in Pregnancy also provides an introduction to the physiological changes of pregnancy and the relevant obstetric knowledge and processes needed for a cardiologist to successfully manage a pregnant woman.

Heart disease is the most common medical cause of maternal death in the UK and it is a major pregnancy problem around the world. The RCOG invited 26 of the world's leading experts from the UK, Europe, the USA and Canada and Japan, to a study group in February 2006, each contributing the latest available information in this vital area. The editors have paid great attention to accuracy but also to readability. The fact that the contributors came together to check, refine and develop their chapters and the speed with which the book has been produced have resulted in a volume which is particularly valuable for updating clinical practice in this key area. This is a book that all obstetricians, cardiologists and anaesthetists dealing with pregnant women with heart disease should read. Anyone with an interest in women's health care will find something for them in these pages.

This book describes the risks facing patients with congenital heart disease who wish to become pregnant and the ways in which these patients can best be followed and treated during pregnancy. In addition, the organization of care around the delivery is discussed in detail. The first section provides clear advice on pre-pregnancy risk estimation, counseling of patients, medication use, and inheritance. The specific risks associated with congenital heart defects of differing severity are then explained, with guidance on monitoring and management. The coverage includes simple lesions such as atrial and ventricular septal defects, conditions associated with moderate risk, including tetralogy of Fallot and coarctation, and complex disease such as a Fontan or Mustard repair. The final section is devoted to delivery and considers the mode of delivery, anesthetic use, and postpartum care. Readers will find much information that is underreported in the literature, and the book goes well beyond the European Society of Cardiology guidelines, for example, by considering medical conditions not defined as high risk and addressing the organization of care thoroughly.

The new edition of this practical guide draws on the clinical skills of a wide range of international experts to help you recognize and manage heart disease in pregnancy. Designed for on-the-spot use, this convenient and concise text helps you identify a cardiac problem, understand its pathophysiology, and respond appropriately. Under the careful editorial direction of Drs. Oakley and Warnes, the Second Edition introduces new contributors from North America and Europe as well as new chapters on: pulmonary hypertension rheumatic heart disease artificial heart valves Marfan syndrome auto-immune diseases hypertrophic cardiomyopathy rhythm disorders hypertension cardiac intervention The entire book is scrupulously updated to reflect the most current standards of care. The contributors – all recognized leaders in their respective fields – outline the pathway to diagnosis and appropriate management by a multi-disciplinary team. Although heart disease is the leading medical cause of maternal death, clinical trials in this population are few and the evidence base is small. The expert recommendations in Heart Disease in Pregnancy, Second Edition, are a welcome source of information for cardiologists, obstetricians, general practitioners, and all members of the patient care team.

Hypertensive disorders are among the most common medical complications of pregnancy, with an incidence of approximately 6-10%. This spectrum of conditions includes essential hypertension, pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. For patients with pre-existing hypertension, management ideally commences prior to conception, and continues through pregnancy to the postnatal period. This book provides information on the evidence-based management of women with hypertension throughout pregnancy, supported by important background information on the etiology, risk-factors and pathophysiology of these disorders. Illustrated with accompanying algorithms, tables and lists for quick reference on diagnostic criteria, drugs and side-effects, this book will help clinicians rapidly gain access to the information they need to care for these patients. This will to be of interest to all grades of obstetric trainees as well as specialists, obstetric anesthetists and anesthetic trainees, midwives and maternal-fetal physicians.