Treating cardiac disease in pregnancy.

Maternal cardiac disease is a very significant cause of both maternal morbidity and mortality in westernized countries. An effective treatment program must tackle all of the contributing components, including those due to public health issues, poorly coordinated healthcare systems and inadequate medical education. Even with optimal care, many of these patients remain at high risk. In this setting, it is the role of the multidisciplinary team to counsel women regarding these risks and to proactively institute treatment algorithms that will optimize maternal and fetal outcomes.