Objective: To investigate the factors that affect the outcome of pregnancies complicated with critically heart disease admitt ed to obstetric Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted for 188 pregnant and postpartum patients complicated with heart disease who were admitted to the ICU in West China Second University Hospital from July 2009 to March 2013.
Results: During the 4 years, there were 619 cases of pregnancy complicated with heart disease hospitalization. Among them, 188 (30.37%) patients complicated with severe heart disease were admitted to the ICU, accounting for 39.17% of the total ICU admission (480); the mean maternal age was (28.45 ± 6.08) years old and the mean gestational time was (36.03 ± 4.19) weeks. 23 (12.23%) patients received regular antenatal care in our hospital. 61 (32.45%) patients never received antenatal care before hospitalization. Among them, 5 patients were dead. The ratio for diagnosis of heart disease before pregnancy, during pregnancy and after admission were 39.89%, 25.54% and 34.57%, respectively; the most common heart diseases during pregnancy were congenital cardiac disease (80, 42.55%) and rheumatic heart disease (45, 23.94%) followed by arrhythmias (20, 10.64%). The most common complication were pulmonary arterial hypertension (51, 27.13%), arrhythmias (47, 25.00%) and severe heart failure (30, 15.96%); the cardiac function of 164 (87.23%) patients was at stage I-II and 5 (2.66% ) patients died when discharged from hospital. 151 (80.32%) patients received multidisciplinary consultation and 34 (18.09%) used central venous catheterization to control central venous pressure (CVP). 21 (11.17%) patients required mechanical ventilation. 11 (5.85%) patients required emergency life support (cardiopulmonary resuscitation 9 + electric defibrillation 3).
Conclusion: Pregnancy complicated with heart disease is the leading reason for admission to ICU. The congenital cardiac disease, rheumatic heart disease and arrhythmias are the main heart diseases during pregnancy. Multidisciplinary cooperation and intensive care are the key measures to improve the outcomes of patients with critically illness. It is very important for reduction of the maternal mortality rate through strengthening preconception care and antenatal care.