Infective endocarditis in pregnancy requiring simultaneous emergent caesarean section and mitral valve replacement: a case report

Background Although infective endocarditis (IE) in pregnancy is rare, maternal and foetal mortality rates are very high. We herein report the successful treatment of a case of IE with simultaneous emergent caesarean section and mitral valve replacement performed at 27 weeks of gestation. Case summary A 29-year-old woman at 27 weeks of gestation was referred for congestive heart failure (HF) due to infective endocarditis (IE) with large mobile vegetations and overt disruption of the mitral valve. We held a multi-disciplinary conference and decided to perform mitral valve replacement immediately after caesarean section because of the high risk of embolism and sepsis, worsening and unstable haemodynamics, and sufficient foetal maturity for delivery. Although coronary artery embolization and asymptomatic multiple cerebral infarctions were observed, her post-operative course was uneventful. Ultimately, the patient was discharged 29 days after surgery. The neonate was treated in the NICU until the expected delivery date and was discharged home on Day 95 of life. Discussion Difficulties are associated with the selection of an operative plan and its timing for IE during pregnancy. Heart failure due to IE requires urgent surgery when medical treatment cannot stabilize the patient. However, cardiopulmonary bypass and medicine for pregnant women adversely affect the foetus. Therefore, the timing of surgery and delivery needs to be selected by a multi-disciplinary team and in consideration of the maternal condition and foetal maturity.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis during pregnancy: a review of the literature in epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis during pregnancy is rare; it is often misdiagnosed, resulting in a high maternal and foetal mortality rate. Herein, based on limited case reports including antepartum and postpartum cases, we reviewed the current studies of pregnancy-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and compared the epidemiology, aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with non-pregnancy, enriching the understanding of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and its treatment in obstetrics.

Lead Levels in Non-Occupationally Exposed Women with Preeclampsia

There are many controversies regarding the relationship between lead exposure andcomplications in pregnancy. Preeclampsia (PE) is a maternal hypertensive disorder which is one of the main causes of maternal and foetal mortality. The aim of our study was to assess blood lead level (BLL) in Polish women with PE (PE group, n = 66) compared with healthy, non-pregnant women (CNP group, n = 40) and healthy pregnant women (CP group, n = 40). BLL was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and BLL in the CP group were significantly lower than in the PE group (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analyses of BLL showed a significant positive relationship with the presence of PE. Furthermore, both the SBP and DBP values were positively associated with BLL. This study indicates that preeclamptic women tend to present with significantly higher BLL compared to healthy pregnant women. There were no differences in the BLL between the CP and CNP groups.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection with cardiogenic shock in the third trimester, and a successful early-term delivery: a case report

Background Acute myocardial infarction in pregnancy is occasionally due to spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Although uncommon, the majority of cases of pregnancy-associated SCAD (pSCAD) has critical presentations with more profound defects that portend high maternal and foetal mortality, and frequently necessitate preterm delivery. This is a case of pSCAD with ongoing ischaemia that required temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and emergent revascularization, while the pregnancy was successfully continued to early-term. Case summary A 30-year-old woman G2P1 at Week 32 of gestation with no medical history, presented to the emergency department with severe chest pain. An electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation in the anterolateral leads. An emergent cardiac catheterization revealed dissection of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery with TIMI (thrombolysis in myocardial infarction) 3 flow. Although initially stable, she later experienced recurrent chest pain and developed cardiogenic shock, necessitating MCS, and emergent revascularization. She was stabilized and remained closely monitored in the hospital prior to vaginal delivery at early-term. Discussion This case of pSCAD at Week 32 of gestation complicated by refractory ischaemia illustrates the complexity of management, which requires a multi-disciplinary team to reduce both maternal and foetal mortality. Conservative management of SCAD, while preferred, is not always possible in the setting of ongoing ischaemia, particularly if complicated by cardiogenic shock. A thorough weighing of risks vs. benefits and ongoing discussions among multiple subspecialists in this case allowed for the stabilization of the patient and subsequent successful early-term delivery.

The clinical study of vaginal birth after caesarean section

Background: VBAC has reduced the rate of repeat caesarean section in modern medicine. VBAC-TOL is successful in 60-80% of acceptable candidates if applied to all patients presenting with prior caesarean procedure (8.2-8.5%), there is potential to increase the overall vaginal delivery rate by 5%. Though the safety of VBAC in carefully selected patients have been demonstrated in several studies, controversy continues over when to advise patients who had caesarean section to undergo TOL. The purpose of current study was to know the success of VBAC, to know the maternal morbidity and mortality and foetal outcome in VBAC group.Methods: It was a prospective study performed on women with one previous LSCS admitted to tertiary care hospital for a period of one year from August 2018 to August 2019 at DM Waynad institute of medical sciences, Waynad.Results: In the present study 292 women with one previous LSCS were selected, among them 32 women had elective LSCS for various indications, 260 women underwent TOL. Among 260 women, 152 women achieved VBAC (58.46%) and 108 women underwent LSCS following failed TOL. Maternal morbidity was 9.61%. The incidence of scar dehiscence was 2.69% and uterine rupture was 0.38%. There was no maternal and foetal mortality in this study. NICU admission was 4.6%.Conclusions: Trial of labour should be encouraged in women with one previous LSCS with no obstetric complications.

Cardiac surgery during pregnancy: what is the optimal timing of intervention? A meta-analysis of individual patient data

Background Cardiac disease can manifest or worsen during pregnancy and some cases urges cardiac surgery. According to current guidelines, the second trimester is supposed to be the optimal time frame. However, evidence for this recommendation is poor. Objective We evaluate whether an optimal period to undergo cardiac surgery during pregnancy can be identified, focusing on both maternal and foetal outcomes. Methods All studies published in Medline up to February 8th, 2018 on maternal and/or foetal outcome of cardiac surgery during pregnancy that included individual patient data were identified. Three groups were analysed: all identified patients (total population), patients who underwent caesarean section (CS) prior to cardiac surgery (subgroup A) and patients who underwent cardiac surgery with the foetus in utero (subgroup B). For the total population and subgroup B, logistic regression analysis was performed to find predictors of maternal and foetal outcome. Results We identified 142 studies including 328 patients of which 114 underwent CS prior to cardiac surgery (subgroup A). Maternal mortality in the total population was 5.2% and did not differ significantly among trimester (p=0.634). Foetal mortality in the total population was lowest in the third trimester (9.4%, p&lt;0.01) and CS prior to surgery significantly reduced risk of foetal mortality in a multivariate model (OR 0.09, CI 0.02–0.35). Subgroup analysis showed foetal mortality of 7.0% in subgroup A and 33.6% in subgroup B (p&lt;0.01). Trimester was not identified as a significant predictor for foetal and/or maternal mortality in subgroup B. See table 1. Conclusion Maternal mortality of cardiac surgery during pregnancy is not significantly influenced by trimester. Foetal mortality after maternal cardiac surgery is very high. When the fetus is viable, CS prior to cardiac surgery should be considered in the third trimester. If not feasible or safe to postpone surgery, trimester stage should not delay cardiac surgery. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Aortic dissection during pregnancy and postpartum in patients with Marfan syndrome: a 21-year clinical experience in 30 patients

OBJECTIVES Pregnancy-related aortic dissection (AoD) in Marfan syndrome is a lethal catastrophe. Due to its rarity and limited clinical experience, there is no consensus regarding the optimal management strategy. We seek to present our 21-year experience in such patients , focusing on management strategies and early and late outcomes. METHODS Between 1998 and 2019, we managed 30 pregnant women with Marfan syndrome (mean age 30.7 ± 4.3 years) who sustained AoD at a mean of 28.3 ± 8.8 weeks of gestation (GWs). AoD was acute in 21 (70%), type A (TAAD) in 24 (80%) and type B (TBAD) in 6 (20%). Fourteen TAADs (58.3%, 14/24) and 2 TBADs (33.3%, 2/6) occurred in the third trimester or postpartum. The maximal aortic size was &lt; 45 mm in 26.7% (8/30; 3 TAADs, 5 TBADs). Management strategy was based on the types of dissection and GWs (i.e. surgical versus medical treatment, surgery or delivery first). RESULTS TAADs were treated medically in 1 and surgically in 23. The timing of delivery and surgery were caesarean first at 35.4 ± 6.1 GWs in 7 (29.2%), followed by surgery after mean 46 days; single-stage C-section and surgery at 32.0 ± 5.0 GWs in 10 (41.7%); and surgery first at 18.0 ± 5.8 GWs in 6 (25%), followed by C-section after 20 days. Maternal and foetal mortality were 28.6% (2/7) and 14.3% (1/7), 10.0% (1/10) and 20.0% (2/10) and 16.7% (1/6) and 83.3% (5/6), respectively. Five TBADs (83.3%) were managed with C-section followed by surgery in 2 and medical treatment in 3. The respective maternal and foetal mortality were 50% (1/2) and 100% (2/2) and 33.3% (1/3) and 33.3% (1/3), respectively. One TBAD was managed surgically first followed by C-section, resulting in maternal survival and foetal death. Follow-up was complete in 95.8% (23/24) at 3.7 ± 2.9 years. Four late deaths occurred and reoperation was performed in 1 patient. Maternal and foetal survival were 64.3% and 54.1% at 6 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Management of AoD in pregnant women with Marfan syndrome should be based on types of dissection (surgical versus medical) and gestational age (delivery or surgery first), which largely determine maternal and foetal survival. Aortic repair should be considered prior to conception in women with Marfan syndrome even at diameters smaller than recommended by current guidelines.

P967 Profile of arrhythmia in pregnant women with different WHO class is similar

Background Arrhythmia is the most common cardiac complications during pregnancy especially in women with structural heart disease. Methods: Since January 2015 till December 2018 the consecutive 150 pregnant women with different maternal cardiovascular risk according to WHO classification: 100 in WHO I and II (gr 1);50 in WHO II-III, III, IV were enrolled. Each woman had 24-hour Holter- ECG monitoring during at least 2 trimester. Results: Except mild ventricular arrhythmia i.e ventricular extrasystole &gt; 1000 per 24 hour, which occured more often in group1, we did not observe any significant differences in arrhythmic profile of pregnant women with different WHO risk classification (table 1). Delivery: Caesarean section was more frequent in gr 2 (86% vs 62%) but rate of stillbirths were similar among groups. Maternal death did not occurred, there was 2 (4%) foetal mortality in gr 2. Mean duration of pregnancy, children length and birthweight were significantly higher in gr 1(table1).Conclusion: Arrhythmias during pregnancy occurred particularly on the substrate of structural heart disease. According to our observation pregnant women with potentially higher risk of maternal cardiovascular events did not reveal significant arrhythmia including conduction disturbances in comparison to women in WHO class I or II. Holter monitoring resultes Parameter Group 1; no 100 Group 2, no 50 P value Age 31(27-34) 31(28-33) 0,36 NYHA 1,34 1,32 0,76 SVE &gt; 1000/d 2(2,15%) 2(5,88%) 0,28 VE &gt; 1000/d 20(19,23%) 3(5,88%) 0,03 SVT 6(6,5%) 4(11,43%) 0,35 sVT 1(1%) 0 0,65 nsVT 8(8,79%) 3(8,57%) 0,96 AF/AT 0 2(4%) 0,54 AV I 5(5%) 3(6%) 0,32 AV II Mobitz I 1(1,1%) 1(2%) 0,53 AV III 0 1(2%) 0,41 Duration (weeks) 39(38-40) 37,1 0,017 Weight (grams) 3220+-641 2840+-767 g 0,02 Caesareon section 54(62%) 33(86%) 0,00 Stillbirths 22(21,57% 8(17,78%) 0,6