Abstract :
Introduction: There is increased prevalence of heart disease in women of childbearing age. Heart disease
is the leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in unbooked and in newly diagnosed heart disease
complicating pregnancy. The signs and symptoms of pregnancy may confuse with the signs and symptoms
of heart disease. The utility of echocardiography as an imaging technique has increased tremendously
over the past decade. Echocardiogram is the gold standard and definite diagnostic tool in diagnosing heart
disease. Our aim is to identify heart disease in an asymptomatic pregnant women with the use of screening
echocardiography.
Materials and Methods: Three hundred pregnant women in all trimester of pregnancy were enrolled in
this study. The study period is between October 2016 to January 2017 at Government Kilpauk medical
college. Those with previous history of heart disease were excluded. Conventional M mode, 2D and
Doppler echocardiography were performed for all patients.
Results: Out of 300 study population 65% (n-195), 23% (n-69)and 12% (n- 36) patients were in first,
second and third trimester respectively. We found that 6.3% (n-19) of patients had either congenital or
acquired heart disease. Among this, acquired heart disease burden is about 63% (n-12) and congenital
heart disease is 37% (n-7). In congenital heart disease, Mitral valve prolapse 42.8% (n-3) atrial septal
defect 28.5%(n-2), valvular pulmonary stenosis 14.2%(n-1) and coarctation of aorta 14.2% (n-1) were
diagnosed. In acquired heart disease rheumatic heart disease found in all patients (100% (n-12). Among
the Rheumatic etiology isolated stenotic lesion in 50% (n-6,) isolated regurgitant lesion in 33.3% (n-4) and
combined lesion in 16.6% (n-2) were identified in the study population.
Conclusion: Our study showed screening echocardiography will definitely helpful in identifying heart
disease and reduce the mortality related to heart disease. This will justify the routine cardiac assessment
even in the absence of cardiopulmonary symptoms.
Keyword :
Echocardiography, Pregnancy, Heart disease, Maternal mortality.