Pregnancy in patients with prosthetic cardiac valves.

Thirty-seven pregnancies in 33 patients who had prosthetic cardiac valves inserted at Baragwanath Hospital are reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups, as determined by fetal and maternal outcome. There were 31 live births, and the patients seemed to deal well with the haemodynamic stresses of pregnancy. There were 2 maternal deaths, and 6 patients required a second valve replacement during the pregnancy under review. The problem of longterm anticoagulant therapy and its management is discussed.