Five cases of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in Malawi

Abstract

Aim This report of five cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) treated at Daeyang Luke Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, illustrates presentation and treatment of this increasingly commonly recognized medical condition. Methods Information including history, physical examination, and imaging studies were collected from five cases of peripartum women who presented to the hospital over an 18-month period. Results A summary of recommended treatment is included in table form, and a flow chart proposing a care pathway for managing PPCM in Malawi, beginning at the district hospital level, is presented. Conclusion Clinical recognition, appropriate diagnostic modalities, and informed treatment of PPCM in Malawi will improve care of peripartum woman and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.