[Pregnancy in women with heart defects: outlook on the problem].

Modern approach to management of pregnancy and delivery in women with heart defects is presented in this paper. The 3-level system of observation of this contingent of patients is based on stratification of risk of development of cardiological complications which allows to form an algorithm of physicians actions, and to optimize tactics of ambulatory and hospital stages of treatment. Stratification of risk is supplemented with quantitative echocardiographic parameters which reflect hemodynamic overload of the myocardium and facilitate work of a practical physician. Special consideration is given to pregnant women subjected to palliative cardiac surgery. If contractile function is preserved these women have good prognosis relative to prolongation of pregnancy and unassisted delivery.