TY - JOUR

T1 - Outcomes of pregnancy in women with tetralogy of Fallot

AU - Pedersen, Lia M

AU - Pedersen, Thais A L

AU - Ravn, Hanne B

AU - Hjortdal, Vibeke E

PY - 2008/8

Y1 - 2008/8

N2 - BACKGROUND: Surgical results after repair of tetralogy of Fallot have remained excellent for the last decades, with current long-term rates of survival over 95%. Since functional capacity, quality of life, and social interactions are basically normal in this large group of patients, pregnancy obviously becomes a relevant issue for the female subgroup. In consequence, adequate obstetrical and cardiological management of pregnancy is particularly important.OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcomes of pregnancy, and fertility, in a series of women who underwent surgery for tetralogy of Fallot in a single centre.METHODS AND RESULTS: We obtained data from hospital records, national registries, and questionnaires on 78 women who underwent surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot between 1972 and 1992. Of 58 women who reached an age of at least 18 years, with 45 of this cohort currently surviving, 13 having died as adults, there were 54 pregnancies in 25 women. The recorded rate of spontaneous abortion was 15%, and infertility rate was 3.4%. There have been 41 life births, with a median weight at birth of 3.2 kg. Only 1 newborn was small for gestational age, and no one was born before the 36th week. The recurrence rate of congenital heart disease was high, at 9.8%. Cardiac complications during or after pregnancy were not observed, and only one woman had pre-eclampsia.CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy is well tolerated in women with tetralogy of Fallot, and an excellent neonatal outcome is expected. The recurrence risk of congenital cardiac disease, most often tetralogy of Fallot, is high.

AB - BACKGROUND: Surgical results after repair of tetralogy of Fallot have remained excellent for the last decades, with current long-term rates of survival over 95%. Since functional capacity, quality of life, and social interactions are basically normal in this large group of patients, pregnancy obviously becomes a relevant issue for the female subgroup. In consequence, adequate obstetrical and cardiological management of pregnancy is particularly important.OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcomes of pregnancy, and fertility, in a series of women who underwent surgery for tetralogy of Fallot in a single centre.METHODS AND RESULTS: We obtained data from hospital records, national registries, and questionnaires on 78 women who underwent surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot between 1972 and 1992. Of 58 women who reached an age of at least 18 years, with 45 of this cohort currently surviving, 13 having died as adults, there were 54 pregnancies in 25 women. The recorded rate of spontaneous abortion was 15%, and infertility rate was 3.4%. There have been 41 life births, with a median weight at birth of 3.2 kg. Only 1 newborn was small for gestational age, and no one was born before the 36th week. The recurrence rate of congenital heart disease was high, at 9.8%. Cardiac complications during or after pregnancy were not observed, and only one woman had pre-eclampsia.CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy is well tolerated in women with tetralogy of Fallot, and an excellent neonatal outcome is expected. The recurrence risk of congenital cardiac disease, most often tetralogy of Fallot, is high.

KW - Adult

KW - Cohort Studies

KW - Female

KW - Heart Defects, Congenital/etiology

KW - Humans

KW - Infant, Newborn

KW - Infertility, Female/epidemiology

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular

KW - Pregnancy Outcome

KW - Survivors

KW - Tetralogy of Fallot/surgery

U2 - 10.1017/S1047951108002345

DO - 10.1017/S1047951108002345

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18559134

VL - 18

SP - 423

EP - 429

JO - Cardiology in the Young

JF - Cardiology in the Young

SN - 1047-9511

IS - 4

ER -