Pregnancy and Congenital Heart Disease: Moving Beyond the Current Risk Stratification Tools

Abstract

Women with congenital heart disease have increased risks of complications during pregnancy. Several risk scoring tools have been developed to quantify the likelihood of adverse cardiac outcomes during pregnancy. This article describes how comprehensive pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy counseling needs to go well beyond these risk scores. Non-cardiac risk factors and adverse obstetric and fetal outcomes are vital components of the dialogue between the multidisciplinary team and the patient embarking on, or contemplating, pregnancy.