Congenital heart disease and pregnancy
Annually, there > 30,000 infants are born with congenital heart defects; in different populations, the prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) varies from 2.4 to 14.15%. Women with CHD planning pregnancy are at increased risk of heart failure, arrhythmias, cerebrovascular disease, and embolism. In such patients, pregnancy course is complicated by intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, and preterm birth. Their newborns generally have a low birth weight and high risk of congenital malformations including heart defects. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) developed risk assessment-based guidelines to optimise the management of pregnant women with CHD. This approach requires a cooperation of obstetrician-gynecologists, general practitioners, and cardiologists.