Patient-prosthesis mismatch in pregnancy.

Background: Patient-prosthesis mismatch is a known and severe complication after aortic valve repair in the general population. There is a paucity of literature regarding this condition in pregnancy.

Case: We present the clinical course of a pregnant woman with severe patient-prosthesis mismatch after aortic valve replacement. After extensive workup, the patient underwent aortic valve replacement, enlargement of the aortic root, and placement of a larger prosthetic valve at 21 weeks of gestation. Her postoperative course was complicated by fetal death.

Conclusion: Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic valve replacement present a multitude of risks to maternal and fetal health. The obstetrician managing pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves should be aware of the complications that may arise, including patient-prosthesis mismatch.