Anaesthetic management of pregnant patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices: case reports and review.

Heart disease is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Pregnant women with structural, conduction or degenerative cardiac disease who require rhythm control or who are at high risk of sudden cardiac death may carry a cardiac implantable electronic device or may occasionally require the insertion of one during their pregnancy. These women are now encountered more frequently in clinical practice, and it is essential that a multidisciplinary approach, beginning from the early antenatal phase, be adopted in their counselling and management.

Anaesthetic management of parturients with univentricular congenital heart disease and the Fontan operation.

Women with a single ventricle circulation palliated with the Fontan operation require specialist multidisciplinary management. We report 14 such cases with successful pregnancies and detail the pathophysiology encountered. A combined obstetric and cardiac service between Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital provides care for women with heart disease, and maintains a prospective database of referred women.