[Early and late effects of the gestational course following commisurotomy].

Early and late effects of pregnancy on the cardio-vascular system and on the outcome of the pregnancy were studied in 82 women after commissurotomies. According to the clinical and instrumental investigations the burden of pregnancy may only be temporary and might cause no demonstrable damage on case of careful supervision of specialists before, during and after pregnancy and if there is a considerate delivery. Due to the higher number of "small for date babies" the fetal perinatal mortality rate and premature births are higher than in the general population. The higher incidence of "small for date babies" seems to be related to a decrease of the function of placenta in cases of premature delivery. Further improvement of matermal and foetal results is expected from perfecting diagnostic methods and from a better coordination of the team work of heart surgeons, cardiologists and gynaecologists.