Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy

Cardiac disease continues to be a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. It is now the leading cause of overall and indirect maternal deaths in United Kingdom and has accounted for 22.2% of all maternal deaths in the UK from 2010 to 2012. Extensive haemodynamic changes that occur in pregnancy can have a profound effect on pre-existing heart disease. Management can be challenging and often a multidisciplinary approach involving the obstetricians, cardiologists and anaesthetists is necessary to optimise pregnancy outcomes.