Surgical management of valvular heart diseases in pregnancy

Heart disease in pregnancy remains one of the important causes for maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Cardiac surgery undertaken in pregnancy presents specific additional issues for both the mother and fetus; especially cardiopulmonary bypass and the factors associated with it. Successful outcome of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery during pregnancy depends upon the multidisciplinary management of the patient, which is frequently under reported from the developing world. We present our experience of two cases where cardiopulmonary bypass surgery for cardiac valve replacement was successfully performed during pregnancy without any maternal or fetal mortality. A review of published literature is also undertaken in order to present evidence based recommendations for undertaking such procedures in pregnancy.