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Review
. 2025 Apr 8;15(4):148.
doi: 10.3390/jpm15040148.

Pregnancy-Related Heart Disease in the Emergency Department

Nicole R Hodgson  1 , Rachel A Lindor  2 , Jessica Monas  1 , Kimberly Heller  1 , Patrick Kishi  1 , Aaron Thomas  1 , Cody Petrie  1 , Lauren B Querin  1 , Andrej Urumov  1 , David S Majdalany  3
Affiliations
Review

Pregnancy-Related Heart Disease in the Emergency Department

Nicole R Hodgson et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

Pregnancy induces significant physiologic changes that impact the cardiovascular system, potentially exacerbating pre-existing cardiac conditions or precipitating new illnesses. Pregnant patients with cardiac emergencies pose unique challenges, as standard interventions may pose risks to the developing fetus. This article aims to enhance emergency physicians' confidence in managing pregnancy-related cardiac emergencies by providing a structured approach to initial evaluation and stabilization. We review eight common categories of pregnancy-associated cardiac illness: gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, valvular disease, aortopathies, congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, coronary disease, and anticoagulation-related complications. For each condition, we summarize relevant pregnancy-specific pathophysiology and outline evidence-based, personalized emergency management strategies.

Keywords: adult congenital heart disease in pregnancy; cardiovascular changes in pregnancy; pregnancy-related cardiac emergencies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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