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Review
. 2015 Apr;33(4):573-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.02.046. Epub 2015 Mar 7.

The pregnant heart: cardiac emergencies during pregnancy

Alyson J McGregor  1 , Rebecca Barron  2 , Karen Rosene-Montella  3
Affiliations
Review

The pregnant heart: cardiac emergencies during pregnancy

Alyson J McGregor et al. Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular emergencies in pregnant patients are often considered a rare event; however, heart disease as a cause of maternal mortality is steadily increasing.

Discussion: In this article, we review 3 common cardiovascular emergencies and the important subtle differences in their treatment in the pregnant patient: peripartum/postpartum cardiomyopathy, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiac resuscitation.

Conclusion: Managing these conditions in the emergency department setting requires a high index of suspicion, knowledge of anatomical and physiologic changes associated with pregnancy, and updated management strategies related to optimizing maternal and fetal health.

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Comment in

  • Peripartum cardiomyopathy in the ED.
    Yildirim B, Dogan V, Soylu MO, Biteker M. Yildirim B, et al. Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Aug;33(8):1099-100. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.04.045. Epub 2015 Apr 29. Am J Emerg Med. 2015. PMID: 25959842 No abstract available.
  • Authors' response to "peripartum cardiomyopathy in the ED".
    McGregor AJ, Barron R, Rosene-Montella K. McGregor AJ, et al. Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Aug;33(8):1100-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.04.044. Epub 2015 Apr 29. Am J Emerg Med. 2015. PMID: 25963678 No abstract available.

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