Congenital complete heart block in pregnancy

Abstract

Complete heart block (CHB) is infrequently encountered during pregnancy. Its management requires a multidisciplinary approach involving the obstetrician, cardiologist, anesthetist and neonatologist. It varies from conservative, temporary or permanent pacemaker (PPM) insertion (either during the antenatal, intrapartum or postpartum period). We present the case of a 30-year-old, gravida 2 para 1 at the 36-week period of amenorrhea (POA) with congenital CHB. She was asymptomatic throughout her pregnancy despite having a pulse rate between 40 and 50 beats per minute. She delivered a healthy boy via cesarean section due to breech presentation after a failed external cephalic version. A temporary pacemaker was inserted prior to delivery. However, she required permanent insertion of pacemaker during the postpartum period.

Keywords: complete heart block; congenital; pregnancy.