Which Cardiac Disease Has The Lowest Risk For Maternal Mortality?

For pregnant women with cardiac disease there is always an increased risk of maternal mortality. However there are some types of cardiac diseases that have a lower risk of maternal mortality compared to others. In this article we will discuss which cardiac disease has the lowest risk for maternal mortality.

What is maternal mortality?

Maternal mortality is the death of a woman during pregnancy childbirth or within 42 days postpartum. It is a major concern in developing countries but even in developed countries it is still a significant issue. Pregnancy puts a strain on the woman’s body especially on her heart for women with pre-existing cardiac disease the risk of maternal mortality is significantly higher.

Which cardiac disease has the lowest risk for maternal mortality?

The cardiac disease with the lowest risk for maternal mortality is mitral stenosis. Mitral stenosis is a condition in which the mitral valve in the heart does not open properly causing the blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle to be restricted. This puts a strain on the heart can lead to heart failure.

Women with mitral stenosis who have a normal left ventricular function no pulmonary hypertension have a low risk of developing complications during pregnancy. In fact the maternal mortality rate for women with mitral stenosis in developed countries is less than 1 percent which is lower than the global maternal mortality rate of 211 per 100000 live births.

There are some factors that can increase the risk of maternal mortality for women with mitral stenosis. These factors include:

• Severe mitral stenosis
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Arrhythmias
• Heart failure
• Thromboembolism
• Atrial fibrillation

Conclusion

For pregnant women with cardiac disease the risk of maternal mortality is always a concern. However women with mitral stenosis who have a normal left ventricular function no pulmonary hypertension have a low risk of developing complications during pregnancy. It is important that women with cardiac disease consult with their doctors before getting pregnant to assess the risk develop a treatment plan to ensure the best outcome for both the mother baby.