title: Prosthetic heart valves and management during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  What are the major concerns during pregnancy for women with prosthetic heart valves?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are 2 types of prosthetic heart valves, bioprosthetic and mechanical. Although successful pregnancies are possible for women with prosthetic heart valves, there are potential complications-some of which can be fatal-for both types of valves. Therefore, preconception counseling and assessment are recommended, and care for these patients should be delivered throughout pregnancy in a specialized program for high-risk patients by a multidisciplinary team.
authors.forename: Farida Mary
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Jeejeebhoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult