Cardiovascular Catastrophes in the Obstetric Population

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2015 Aug;33(3):483-500. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2015.04.001.

Abstract

Pregnancy is a complex and dynamic physiologic state, in which the needs of the mother and fetus must achieve a fine balance with one another. Some of the most dreaded and deadly complications that can arise during this period affect the cardiovascular system are hypertensive emergencies (including preeclampsia and eclampsia), acute coronary syndrome, peripartum cardiomyopathy, dysrhythmias, dissection, thromboembolism, and cardiac arrest. This review provides emergency physicians, obstetricians, intensivists, and other health care providers with the most recent information on the diagnosis and management of these deadly cardiovascular complications of pregnancy.

Keywords: Cardiac arrest; Cardiomyopathy; Cardiovascular; Dissection; Eclampsia; Emergency; Pregnancy; Pulmonary embolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Catastrophic Illness
  • Eclampsia / diagnosis
  • Eclampsia / therapy
  • Emergencies*
  • Emergency Medicine / methods
  • Female
  • Heart Arrest / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / diagnosis
  • Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / therapy
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / therapy*
  • Proteinuria / diagnosis

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents