title: Cardiac disease during pregnancy--a Free State perspective on maternal morbidity and mortality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Description of maternal outcome of pregnancies complicated by cardiac disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein.
  
  
  METHODS
  Black African women of low socio-economic background who presented with cardiac disease during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who delivered from 1 January 1990 to 1 January 1995.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive retrospective study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardiac disease complicated 0.6% of pregnancies. Rheumatic valvular disease dominated in this population. The maternal mortality rate was 9.5% while the maternal morbidity rate ranged from 50% to 100% for the various lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac disease in pregnancy has high maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Hypertension, anticoagulation therapy, late referrals and inadequate counselling were important contributing factors. A high priority should be given to meticulous contraceptive counselling in patients with cardiac disease. Collaboration between obstetricians, physicians and cardiothoracic surgeons in imperative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Schoon
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bam
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolmarans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000401:mortality*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors