Fertility, pregnancy and delivery in women after biventricular repair for double outlet right ventricle.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate outcome of pregnancy and fertility in women with double outlet right ventricle (DORV).

METHODS

Using 2 congenital heart disease registries, 21 female patients with DORV (aged 18-39 years) were retrospectively identified. Detailed recordings of each patient and their completed (>20 weeks gestation) pregnancies were recorded.

RESULTS

Overall, 10 patients had 19 pregnancies, including 3 spontaneous miscarriages (16%). During the 16 live birth pregnancies, primarily (serious) noncardiac complications were observed, e.g. premature labor/delivery (n = 7 and n = 3, respectively), small for gestational age (n = 4), preeclampsia (n = 2) and recurrence of congenital heart disease (n = 2). Except for postpartum endocarditis and deterioration of subpulmonary obstruction, only mild cardiac complication pregnancies were recorded. Two women with children reported secondary female infertility. Several menstrual cycle disorders were reported: secondary amenorrhea (n = 4), primary amenorrhea (n = 3) and oligomenorrhea (n = 2).

CONCLUSION

Successful pregnancy in women with DORV is possible. Primarily noncardiac complications were observed and only few (minor) cardiac complications. Infertility and menstrual cycle disorders appear to be more prevalent.