Cardiopulmonary complications of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an up-to-date review of the literature on the assessment and management of pulmonary and cardiac conditions that may affect women during pregnancy and the postpartum period.


METHODS
A review of the current literature was performed.


RESULTS
Pregnancy may be complicated by a variety of pregnancy-specific and other cardiopulmonary complications. Management requires knowledge of the cardiopulmonary physiologic changes occurring in pregnancy, the pregnancy-specific conditions that may occur, and the effect of a fetus on maternal care.


CONCLUSIONS
Admission of the pregnant or postpartum woman to the intensive care unit is uncommon but may require specialized knowledge for successful management.
Lapinsky
Stephen E
SE
Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents