Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Eisenmenger Syndrome in Pregnancy

Abstract

Eisenmenger syndrome is very rare in pregnant women. Debates remain concerning the management of Eisenmenger syndrome in this patient population and the prognosis is unclear in terms of maternal and fetoneonatal outcomes. Epidural analgesia is preferred for Cesarean section as it alleviates perioperative pain and reduces the pulmonary and systemic vascular resistances. Maternal mortality in the presence of Eisenmenger syndrome is reported as 30-50% and even up to 65% in those with Cesarean section. The major causes of death could be hypovolemia, thromboembolism and preeclampsia. Pregnancy should ideally be avoided in a woman with Eisenmenger syndrome concerning the high maternal mortality rate and probable poor prognosis of the baby. A short labour and an atraumatic delivery under epidural block are preferred in the women with a strong desire of pregnancy. The purpose of this article is to discuss the debates of Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy and the possible resolutions.

Keywords:
Eisenmenger Complex; Pregnancy Complications; Hypertension, Pulmonary

Abbreviations, acronyms & symbols PAH = Pulmonary artery hypertension PVR = Pulmonary vascular resistance SVR = Systemic vascular resistance

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a devastating and refractory disease[11 Zhu Z, Fang Z, Hu X, Zhou S. MicroRNAs and mesenchymal stem cells: hope for pulmonary hypertension. Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc. 2015;30(3):380-5.]. It is rarely reported in pregnant women, but it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality of both mother and baby[22 Weiss BM, Zemp L, Seifert B, Hess OM. Outcome of pulmonary vascular disease in pregnancy: a systematic overview from 1978 through 1996. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998;31(7):1650-7.]. In 1897, Victor Eisenmenger described a large ventricular septal defect as well as the pathological features of PAH of a 32-year-old man and therefore the condition was termed as Eisenmenger syndrome[33 Daliento L, Somerville J, Presbitero P, Menti L, Brach-Prever S, Rizzoli G, et al. Eisenmenger syndrome. Factors relating to deterioration and death. Eur Heart J. 1998;19(12):1845-55.]. In 1958, Wood[44 Wood P. The Eisenmenger syndrome or pulmonary hypertension with reversed central shunt. I. Br Med J. 1958;2(5098):701-9.] expounded this syndrome as a result of an increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) > 800 dynes/sec/cm-5 with a reversed or bidirectional shunt through a large ventricular septal defect. Eisenmenger syndrome is very rare in pregnant women with an incidence of about 3% in the pregnant patients with congenital heart defects[55 Rathod S, Samal SK. Successful pregnancy outcome in a case of Eisenmenger syndrome: a rare case report. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(10):OD08-9.]. Nevertheless, debates remain concerning the management of Eisenmenger syndrome in this patient population and the prognosis is unclear in terms of maternal and fetoneonatal outcomes. The aim of this article is to discuss the debates of Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy and the possible resolutions. The study materials stem from a comprehensive retrieval literature of 1970 to present with search terms of Einsenmenger syndrome and pregnancy.

CLINICAL MANIFESTATION

In pregnant women, the congenital heart diseases that cause pulmonary vascular disease and evolve into Eisenmenger syndrome are mainly ventricular septal defect, followed by atrial septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus[66 Wang L, Liu YN, Zhang J. Analysis of the pregnancy outcome of 7 pregnant women with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Clin Med. 2010;30(7):3-5.]. The pregnant women with Eisenmenger syndrome may present with cyanosis or differential cyanosis, dyspnea, fatigue, dizziness and even right heart failure[66 Wang L, Liu YN, Zhang J. Analysis of the pregnancy outcome of 7 pregnant women with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Clin Med. 2010;30(7):3-5.]. Physical examinations may reveal cyanosis and clubbing of the fingers[77 Fang G, Tian YK, Mei W. Anaesthesia management of Caesarean section in two patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2011;2011:972671.]. Hemorrhagic tendency, such as epistaxis and hemoptysis, has been reported[88 Mukhopadhyav P, Bhattacharya P, Begum N. Successful pregnancy outcome with Eisenmenger syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2012;62(1):68-9.]. Auscultation may reveal an inspiratory crepitation[99 Bazmi S, Malhotra S, Zaman F. A rare case of pregnancy with Eisenmenger syndrome. Int J Obstet Gynaecol Res (IJOGR). 2015;2(2):151-4.] and a loud P2 and a systolic murmur at the pulmonary area. Jugular venous distention and mild lower extremity edema can be seen[77 Fang G, Tian YK, Mei W. Anaesthesia management of Caesarean section in two patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2011;2011:972671.]. Once the patients develops Eisenmenger syndrome, the machinery murmur might be unaudible and the associated patent ductus arteriosus might be misdiagnosed[1010 Koya R, Mallela AR, Dutt A, Shetty H. Pregnancy complicating patent ductus arteriosus with Eisenmenger syndrome. Int J Curr Res. 2015;7(7):18589-90.]. Patients may have a low oxygen saturation[1111 Kahn ML. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 1993;329(12):887.] and polycythemia[1212 Borges VT, Magalhães CG, Martins AM, Matsubara BB. Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2008;90(5):e39-40.]. Severe complications, such as heart failure, endocarditis and thromboembolic accidents, may develop in the condition of pregnancy. Delivery by a pregnant woman with Eisenmenger syndrome represents an increased risk of pulmonary thromboembolism and sudden death, often occurring within the first few days of postpartum[1111 Kahn ML. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 1993;329(12):887.]. A chest X-ray may reveal cardiomegaly with bilateral pulmonary congestion[99 Bazmi S, Malhotra S, Zaman F. A rare case of pregnancy with Eisenmenger syndrome. Int J Obstet Gynaecol Res (IJOGR). 2015;2(2):151-4.]. Electrocardiogram demonstrates right ventricular hypertrophy and sometimes left ventricular hypertrophy. Cardiac catheterization can be used to locate the defect and detect pulmonary arterial pressure[1313 Miller LD. Eisenmenger's syndrome and the pregnant patient. JOGN Nurs. 1983;12(3):175-80.].

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

The main pathophysiological changes can be cyanosis due to a series of hematological and hemodynamic disorders, including secondary erythrocytosis, increased blood viscosity, iron deficiency anemia, blood clotting disturbances, heart failure and serious rapid arrhythmias[1414 Trojnarska O, Plaskota K. Therapeutic methods used in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. Cardiol J. 2009;16(6):500-6.]. Eisenmenger syndrome patients are particularly vulnerable to hemodynamic changes induced by anesthesia or surgery, and even minor decrease in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) may increase the right-to-left shunting and possibly induce circulatory collapse. Additional risks of surgery include excessive bleeding, postoperative arrhythmia, deep vein thrombosis and paradoxical emboli[1515 Parizad R, Tabrizi MT, Chenaghlou M. Maternal health and early outcome in pregnant woman with Eisenmenger syndrome and Ebstein anomaly. Int J Womens Health Rep Med. 2014;2(1):35-8.]. The decreased SVR during pregnancy increases the right-to-left shunting, subsequently leading to a reduced pulmonary perfusion and hypoxia and further deterioration of mother and baby[88 Mukhopadhyav P, Bhattacharya P, Begum N. Successful pregnancy outcome with Eisenmenger syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2012;62(1):68-9.]. Figure 1 depicts the pathophysiology of the pregnant patients with Eisenmenger syndrome[77 Fang G, Tian YK, Mei W. Anaesthesia management of Caesarean section in two patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2011;2011:972671.,1313 Miller LD. Eisenmenger's syndrome and the pregnant patient. JOGN Nurs. 1983;12(3):175-80.,1616 Kansaria JJ, Salvi VS. Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy. J Postgrad Med. 2000;46(2):101-3.]. Moreover, straining during delivery may result in an increased right ventricular pressure, which may cause fatal arrhythmia and even sudden death[1313 Miller LD. Eisenmenger's syndrome and the pregnant patient. JOGN Nurs. 1983;12(3):175-80.]. Microvascular injury stimulates production of growth factors and enzymes, which causes intimal proliferation, medial hypertrophy in association with endothelial dysfunction and platelet adhesion, and leads to obliteration of pulmonary vasculature[1717 Perkett EA, Lyons RM, Moses HL, Brigham KL, Meyrick B. Transforming growth factor-beta activity in sheep lung lymph during the development of pulmonary hypertension. J Clin Invest. 1990;86(5):1459-64.].

Fig. 1
Pathophysiology of Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy[77 Fang G, Tian YK, Mei W. Anaesthesia management of Caesarean section in two patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2011;2011:972671.,1313 Miller LD. Eisenmenger's syndrome and the pregnant patient. JOGN Nurs. 1983;12(3):175-80.,1616 Kansaria JJ, Salvi VS. Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy. J Postgrad Med. 2000;46(2):101-3.]. RV: right ventricle.

ANESTHESIA

The anesthesia for patients with PAH and mode of delivery is controversial. During labor, uterine contraction causes autotransfusion and may increase cardiac output by 25%. This increases pulmonary arterial pressure and may precipitate heart failure or arrhythmia. Regional anesthesia is potentially risky because it may decrease SVR, which would increase the shunt and exacerbate hypoxemia[1818 Boukhris M, Hakim K, M'saad H, Ouarda F, Boussaada R. Successful pregnancy and delivery in a woman with a single ventricle and Eisenmenger syndrome. J Saudi Heart Assoc. 2013;25(4):261-4.]. When epidural analgesia was chosen for perioperative pain, it reduces PVR and SVR by sympathetic block and reduces catecholamine levels, thus causing less tachycardia, less myocardial oxygen consumption and reduction of the right-to-left shunting[1919 Pollack KL, Chestnut DH, Wenstrom KD. Anaesthetic management of a parturient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesth Analg. 1990;70(2):212-5.]. Boukhris et al.[1818 Boukhris M, Hakim K, M'saad H, Ouarda F, Boussaada R. Successful pregnancy and delivery in a woman with a single ventricle and Eisenmenger syndrome. J Saudi Heart Assoc. 2013;25(4):261-4.] successfully used epidural anesthesia in a pregnant woman with a single ventricle and Eisenmenger syndrome and provided excellent analgesia. General anaesthesia can lower SVR remarkably thereby worsening the right-to-left shunting and leading to a difficult extubation. Cole et al.[2020 Cole PJ, Cross MH, Dresner M. Incremental spinal anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Br J Anaesth. 2001;86(5):723-6.] attempted incremental spinal anesthesia using spinal catheters for elective Cesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger syndrome and obtained a satisfactory anesthetic effect. By a graded spinal block, quicker motor block can be achieved with a reduced requirement of anesthetics in comparison to epidural anesthesia[2121 Siddiqui S, Latif N. PGE1 nebulisation during Caesarean section for Eisenmenger's syndrome: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2008;2:149.]. Table 1 shows a comparison of the anesthetic risks in pregnant patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. Of all anesthetic techniques, epidural and incremental spinal anesthesias are the only praised ones.

Table 1
Risks of anesthesia in pregnant patients with Eisenmenger syndrome[18-20,22].

Parturition and puerperium are the most hazardous moments of pregnant patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. The mode of delivery is a topic of debate. Cesarean section should be avoided due to the potentially fatal decrease of circulating blood volume in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome; while vaginal delivery appears to be safer[2323 Crawford JS, Mills WG, Pentecost BL. A pregnant patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Case report. Br J Anaesth. 1971;43(11):1091-4.]. Epidural anesthesia reduces the chance of precipitous hemodynamic changes, and is safe to administer epidural anesthesia to patients with Eisenmenger syndrome[2424 Mishra L, Pani N, Samantaray R, Nayak K. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy: use of epidural anesthesia and analgesia for elective Cesarean section. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2014;30(3):425-6.]. Epidural or intrathecal morphine sulphate can be devoid of effect on systemic blood pressure and represents the best approach to anesthetic management in such patients[1616 Kansaria JJ, Salvi VS. Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy. J Postgrad Med. 2000;46(2):101-3.]. In general, early induction with a short labour and an atraumatic delivery under epidural block is preferred[2323 Crawford JS, Mills WG, Pentecost BL. A pregnant patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Case report. Br J Anaesth. 1971;43(11):1091-4.].

TREATMENT

Women with Eisenmenger syndrome are advised to avoid pregnancy, or an early pregnant interruption should be within 10th gestational week, or with tubal sterilization or artificial abortion[88 Mukhopadhyav P, Bhattacharya P, Begum N. Successful pregnancy outcome with Eisenmenger syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2012;62(1):68-9.]. When the patient has a strong desire of pregnancy, a multidisciplinary consultation is necessary[88 Mukhopadhyav P, Bhattacharya P, Begum N. Successful pregnancy outcome with Eisenmenger syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2012;62(1):68-9.].

Management of patients with Eisenmenger syndrome includes oxygen therapy and the use of digitalis, diuretics, vasodilators and anticoagulants[77 Fang G, Tian YK, Mei W. Anaesthesia management of Caesarean section in two patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2011;2011:972671.]. Facemask oxygen can improve patients' hypoxic condition and reduces pulmonary artery pressure[2121 Siddiqui S, Latif N. PGE1 nebulisation during Caesarean section for Eisenmenger's syndrome: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2008;2:149.]. However, in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome, oxygen is a pulmonary vasodilator, which decreases the blood flow across the right-to-left shunt and thereby improving oxygen saturation. Maternal arterial oxygen tension should be kept at ≥70 mmHg when possible. The use of digitalis with diuretics should be cautious concerning the increased risk of digitalis toxicity. Diuretics may be useful for patients with Eisenmenger syndrome and severe right heart failure in order to relieve hepatic congestion or increase intravascular volume[2525 Parneix M, Fanou L, Morau E, Colson P. Low-dose combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia for Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2009;18(1):81-4.]. In anticipated preterm birth baby, antenatal steroids for fetal lung maturity is warranted[77 Fang G, Tian YK, Mei W. Anaesthesia management of Caesarean section in two patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2011;2011:972671.,99 Bazmi S, Malhotra S, Zaman F. A rare case of pregnancy with Eisenmenger syndrome. Int J Obstet Gynaecol Res (IJOGR). 2015;2(2):151-4.].

However, debates remain in the prophylactic anticoagulant therapy in the peripartum period. Admittedly, heparin use may prevent thromboembolic complications, but subsequent bleeding has been reported with significant blood loss and transient blood pressure drop that warrants cessation of heparin and aggressive transfusion in postpartum[1111 Kahn ML. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 1993;329(12):887.]. Pitts et al.[2626 Pitts JA, Crosby WM, Basta LL. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy: does heparin prophylaxis improve the maternal mortality rate? Am Heart J. 1977;93(3):321-6.] emphasized the potential of excessive bleeding during the postoperative or postpartum period as a result of heparin therapy as a cause of death. Fang et al.[77 Fang G, Tian YK, Mei W. Anaesthesia management of Caesarean section in two patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2011;2011:972671.] suggested anticoagulant use should be cautious in such patients with a high risk of hemorrhage with thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy.

Use of inhaled nitric oxide during labor has been recommended in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. Nitric oxide inhalation during the labor in the pregnant woman with Eisenmenger syndrome may improve oxygenation and attenuate pulmonary arterial pressure[1818 Boukhris M, Hakim K, M'saad H, Ouarda F, Boussaada R. Successful pregnancy and delivery in a woman with a single ventricle and Eisenmenger syndrome. J Saudi Heart Assoc. 2013;25(4):261-4.,2727 Lust KM, Boots RJ, Dooris M, Wilson J. Management of labor in Eisenmenger syndrome with inhaled nitric oxide. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;181(2):419-23.]. Inhaled nitric oxide also has an antithrombotic effect[2828 Griffiths MJ, Evans TW. Inhaled nitric oxide therapy in adults. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(25):2683-95.]. In a pregnant woman with severe PAH, her condition worsened more rapidly despite maximal oxygen therapy on postpartum day 3, showing severe hypoxemia. When the oxygen saturation could not be maintained above 60%, the patient was intubated. Oxygen saturation remained low until nitric oxide was given via the endotracheal tube, and an immediate improvement of oxygen saturation and hemodynamics were achieved by titrating up nitric oxide concentration to 80 ppm[2929 Goodwin TM, Gherman RB, Hameed A, Elkayam U. Favorable response of Eisenmenger syndrome to inhaled nitric oxide during pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;180(1 Pt 1):64-7.]. Kandasamy et al.[2222 Kandasamy R, Koh KF, Tham SL, Reddy S. Anaesthesia for Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Singapore Med J. 2000;41(7):356-8.] avoided the use of nitric oxide because it is a potent pulmonary vasoconstrictor. Instead, they used sevoflurane because the effect of this drug on SVR may be reversed more quickly than isoflurane or halothane.

Mishra et al.[2424 Mishra L, Pani N, Samantaray R, Nayak K. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy: use of epidural anesthesia and analgesia for elective Cesarean section. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2014;30(3):425-6.] reported antenatally irregular treatment with tablet sildenafil 25 mg twice a day in pregnant patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. Lacassie et al.[3030 Lacassie HJ, Germain AM, Valdés G, Fernández MS, Allamand F, López H. Management of Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy with sildenafil and L-arginine. Obstet Gynecol. 2004;103(5 Pt 2):1118-20.] reported a woman with severe PAH due to Eisenmenger syndrome treated during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum with sildenafil 150 mg/day along with L-arginine 3 g/day and facemask nitric oxide 64 ppm, leading to a significant reduction of PAH and PVR and clinical improvement within short time. Clinical observations revealed that PAH specific therapies (prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, single or in combination) had a significantly lower risk of death over a median follow-up of 4 years[3131 Dimopoulos K, Inuzuka R, Goletto S, Giannakoulas G, Swan L, Wort SJ, et al. Improved survival among patients with Eisenmenger syndrome receiving advanced therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Circulation. 2010;121(1):20-5.]. Cartago et al.[3232 Cartago R, Alan PA, Benedicto J. Pregnancy outcomes in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmengerization treated with sildenafil monotherapy. Chest. 2012;142(4_suppl.):999A.] reported two cases of Eisenmenger syndrome patients treated with sildenafil as monotherapy caused stabilization of the maternal condition and good clinical outcome. Prostaglandin E1 nebulization helps to reduce intracardiac shunting flow, improves hypoxia and decreases pulmonary artery pressure[2121 Siddiqui S, Latif N. PGE1 nebulisation during Caesarean section for Eisenmenger's syndrome: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2008;2:149.]. In spite of the already defined safe limit for surgical repair of the heart defect for patients with PAH, such as 6 Wood Unit of PVR, pulmonary to systemic flow ratio >1.5 and PVR < SVR[3333 Baumgartner H, Bonhoeffer P, De Groot NM, de Haan F, Deanfield JE, Galie N, et al; Task Force on the Management of Grown-up Congenital Heart Disease of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC); Association for European Paediatric Cardiology (AEPC); ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG). ESC Guidelines for the management of grown-up congenital heart disease (new version 2010). Eur Heart J. 2010;31(23):2915-57.], cardiac operation is preserved for the pregnant patients.

PROGNOSIS

The greatest risk lies in the periods of delivery and early postpartum due to large hemodynamic changes[1111 Kahn ML. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 1993;329(12):887.]. The major causes of death could be hypovolemia, thromboembolism and preeclampsia[88 Mukhopadhyav P, Bhattacharya P, Begum N. Successful pregnancy outcome with Eisenmenger syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2012;62(1):68-9.]. Alternative causes of death are massive hemoptysis, subarachnoid bleeding, heart failure, arrhythmias, cerebral abscess, complications of cardiac or non-cardiac surgery, or consequences of exercise and pregnancy[99 Bazmi S, Malhotra S, Zaman F. A rare case of pregnancy with Eisenmenger syndrome. Int J Obstet Gynaecol Res (IJOGR). 2015;2(2):151-4.,1919 Pollack KL, Chestnut DH, Wenstrom KD. Anaesthetic management of a parturient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesth Analg. 1990;70(2):212-5.]. Cesarean sections and other operations were associated with an even higher maternal mortality rate[88 Mukhopadhyav P, Bhattacharya P, Begum N. Successful pregnancy outcome with Eisenmenger syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2012;62(1):68-9.].

Pregnant patients with Eisenmenger syndrome complicated by severe preeclampsia showed an extremely high mortality. Despite vaginal delivery is a preferred delivery mode, Cesarean section has been an option for many situations, such as severe intrauterine growth retardation[2222 Kandasamy R, Koh KF, Tham SL, Reddy S. Anaesthesia for Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Singapore Med J. 2000;41(7):356-8.]. Kansaria & Salvi[1616 Kansaria JJ, Salvi VS. Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy. J Postgrad Med. 2000;46(2):101-3.] reported a case of Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy and the patient died three weeks postpartum after a term vaginal delivery. Phupong et al.[3434 Phupong V, Ultchaswadi P, Charakorn C, Prammanee K, Prasertsri S, Charuluxananan S. Fatal maternal outcome of a parturient with Eisenmenger's syndrome and severe preeclampsia. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2003;267(3):163-6.] reported a 30-week pregnant woman with Eisenmenger syndrome and severe preeclampsia in whom Cesarean section was performed due to severe preclampsia and an unfavorable cervix under general anesthesia. The patient died of pulmonary embolism on the postoperative day 2.

Maternal mortality in the presence of Eisenmenger syndrome is reported to be 30-50%[3535 Avila WS, Grinberg M, Snitcowsky R, Faccioli R, Luz PL, Bellotti G, et al. Maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Eur Heart J. 1995;16(4):460-4.] and even up to 65% in those with Cesarean section[3636 Makaryus AN, Forouzesh A, Johnson M. Pregnancy in the patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Mt Sinai J Med. 2006;73(7):1033-6.]. Yentis et al.[3737 Yentis SM, Steer PJ, Plaat F. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy: maternal and fetal mortality in the 1990s. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1998;105(8):921-2.] reported that in the pregnant patients with Eisenmenger syndrome the maternal mortality was 40% and fetal demise was 8%, and only 15% of infants were born at term. Gleicher et al.[3838 Gleicher N, Midwall J, Hochberger D, Jaffin H. Eisenmenger's syndrome and pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Surg. 1979;34(10):721-41.] reported a 34% mortality associated with vaginal delivery and a 75% mortality associated with Cesarean section. It is reported that the most dangerous period is early after delivery, with 70% of deaths occurring on postpartum days 2-30 or died just at the time of delivery[3939 Brach-Prever S, Sheppard M, Somerville J. Fatal outcome of pregnancy in the Eisenmenger syndrome. Cardiol Young. 1997;7(2):238-40.]. Avila et al.[3535 Avila WS, Grinberg M, Snitcowsky R, Faccioli R, Luz PL, Bellotti G, et al. Maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Eur Heart J. 1995;16(4):460-4.] studied 13 pregnancies in 12 women with Eisenmenger syndrome continuing their pregnancy. Cesarean section was performed in all patients as a result of worsening maternal or fetal clinical condition during the third trimester of gestation. Only one of them died on the 30th postpartum day and only one baby died after birth.

Poor prognostic signs in maternal congenital heart disease include maternal hematocrit >60%, arterial oxygen saturation <80%, right ventricular hypertension and syncopal attacks. A fixed PAH not responsive to oxygen also carries a grave prognosis and may be an absolute indication to terminate the pregnancy[2222 Kandasamy R, Koh KF, Tham SL, Reddy S. Anaesthesia for Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Singapore Med J. 2000;41(7):356-8.]. The prognosis of such patients depends on the nature of PAH, with estimated maternal and fetoneonatal mortality of 28% and 7%, respectively[3636 Makaryus AN, Forouzesh A, Johnson M. Pregnancy in the patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Mt Sinai J Med. 2006;73(7):1033-6.]. Maternal mortality showed disparities depending on the associated congenital heart defects: it was higher when associated with ventricular septal defect than with atrial septal defect or with patent ductus arteriosus (60% vs. 44% vs. 41.7%)[99 Bazmi S, Malhotra S, Zaman F. A rare case of pregnancy with Eisenmenger syndrome. Int J Obstet Gynaecol Res (IJOGR). 2015;2(2):151-4.]. The majority of maternal deaths occurred during or within the first week after delivery. Only 25.6% of all pregnancies reached term. At least 54.9% of all deliveries occurred prematurely[3939 Brach-Prever S, Sheppard M, Somerville J. Fatal outcome of pregnancy in the Eisenmenger syndrome. Cardiol Young. 1997;7(2):238-40.]. Neither the mode and timing of delivery nor the type of anesthesia and monitoring correlated with maternal outcome[1818 Boukhris M, Hakim K, M'saad H, Ouarda F, Boussaada R. Successful pregnancy and delivery in a woman with a single ventricle and Eisenmenger syndrome. J Saudi Heart Assoc. 2013;25(4):261-4.]. A delayed diagnosis, a delayed presentation to hospital and severity of PAH have been found to be contributing risk factors[1818 Boukhris M, Hakim K, M'saad H, Ouarda F, Boussaada R. Successful pregnancy and delivery in a woman with a single ventricle and Eisenmenger syndrome. J Saudi Heart Assoc. 2013;25(4):261-4.]. Cesarean sections and other operations are associated with extremely high maternal mortality during pregnancy[3838 Gleicher N, Midwall J, Hochberger D, Jaffin H. Eisenmenger's syndrome and pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Surg. 1979;34(10):721-41.]. In addition, hemorrhage secondary to prophylactic anticoagulation can be fatal in pregnant patients[2626 Pitts JA, Crosby WM, Basta LL. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy: does heparin prophylaxis improve the maternal mortality rate? Am Heart J. 1977;93(3):321-6.].

A premature delivery occurred in 86% of the women and intrauterine growth retardation was 24%[4040 Bédard E, Dimopoulos K, Gatzoulis MA. Has there been any progress made on pregnancy outcomes among women with pulmonary arterial hypertension? Eur Heart J. 2009;30(3):256-65.]. The degree of maternal hypoxemia is the most important predictor of fetal outcome as it has been noted that prepregnant arterial oxygen saturation is in a direct proportion to live births[41]. Vaginal delivery was associated with a 34%, Cesarean section, a 75%, and pregnancy interruptions, a 7% mortality[3838 Gleicher N, Midwall J, Hochberger D, Jaffin H. Eisenmenger's syndrome and pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Surg. 1979;34(10):721-41.]. Furthermore, the fetal outcome among mothers with cyanotic heart disease correlates well with maternal hematocrit[2323 Crawford JS, Mills WG, Pentecost BL. A pregnant patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Case report. Br J Anaesth. 1971;43(11):1091-4.]. Successful pregnancy is unlikely with a hematocrit >65%, and over 30% of the fetuses have growth retardation[1616 Kansaria JJ, Salvi VS. Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy. J Postgrad Med. 2000;46(2):101-3.]. Daliento et al.[33 Daliento L, Somerville J, Presbitero P, Menti L, Brach-Prever S, Rizzoli G, et al. Eisenmenger syndrome. Factors relating to deterioration and death. Eur Heart J. 1998;19(12):1845-55.] found a high incidence of spontaneous abortions (35.8%) and cardiac abnormalities in offspring (20%) in association with maternal Eisenmenger syndrome. Prolonged bed rest, use of heparin, and oxygen therapy can produce satisfactory maternal and fetal outcomes[2222 Kandasamy R, Koh KF, Tham SL, Reddy S. Anaesthesia for Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Singapore Med J. 2000;41(7):356-8.].

CONCLUSION

Pregnancy should ideally be avoided in a woman with Eisenmenger syndrome because of a high maternal mortality rate and probable poor prognosis of baby. These patients with continuing pregnancy should be assessed by a combined and experienced multidisciplinary team, including obstetric, anesthetic, cardiology, pediatric and neonatal physicians. Epidural anesthesia is preferred in Cesarean section. A short labour and an atraumatic delivery under epidural block are preferred.

Authors’ roles & responsibilities SMY Study conception and design; analysis and/or interpretation of data; manuscript writing; final approval of the manuscript
  • This study was carried out at The First Hospital of Putian, Teaching Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Putian, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.
  • No financial support.

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Zhu Z, Fang Z, Hu X, Zhou S. MicroRNAs and mesenchymal stem cells: hope for pulmonary hypertension. Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc. 2015;30(3):380-5.
  • 2
    Weiss BM, Zemp L, Seifert B, Hess OM. Outcome of pulmonary vascular disease in pregnancy: a systematic overview from 1978 through 1996. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998;31(7):1650-7.
  • 3
    Daliento L, Somerville J, Presbitero P, Menti L, Brach-Prever S, Rizzoli G, et al. Eisenmenger syndrome. Factors relating to deterioration and death. Eur Heart J. 1998;19(12):1845-55.
  • 4
    Wood P. The Eisenmenger syndrome or pulmonary hypertension with reversed central shunt. I. Br Med J. 1958;2(5098):701-9.
  • 5
    Rathod S, Samal SK. Successful pregnancy outcome in a case of Eisenmenger syndrome: a rare case report. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(10):OD08-9.
  • 6
    Wang L, Liu YN, Zhang J. Analysis of the pregnancy outcome of 7 pregnant women with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Clin Med. 2010;30(7):3-5.
  • 7
    Fang G, Tian YK, Mei W. Anaesthesia management of Caesarean section in two patients with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2011;2011:972671.
  • 8
    Mukhopadhyav P, Bhattacharya P, Begum N. Successful pregnancy outcome with Eisenmenger syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2012;62(1):68-9.
  • 9
    Bazmi S, Malhotra S, Zaman F. A rare case of pregnancy with Eisenmenger syndrome. Int J Obstet Gynaecol Res (IJOGR). 2015;2(2):151-4.
  • 10
    Koya R, Mallela AR, Dutt A, Shetty H. Pregnancy complicating patent ductus arteriosus with Eisenmenger syndrome. Int J Curr Res. 2015;7(7):18589-90.
  • 11
    Kahn ML. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 1993;329(12):887.
  • 12
    Borges VT, Magalhães CG, Martins AM, Matsubara BB. Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2008;90(5):e39-40.
  • 13
    Miller LD. Eisenmenger's syndrome and the pregnant patient. JOGN Nurs. 1983;12(3):175-80.
  • 14
    Trojnarska O, Plaskota K. Therapeutic methods used in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome. Cardiol J. 2009;16(6):500-6.
  • 15
    Parizad R, Tabrizi MT, Chenaghlou M. Maternal health and early outcome in pregnant woman with Eisenmenger syndrome and Ebstein anomaly. Int J Womens Health Rep Med. 2014;2(1):35-8.
  • 16
    Kansaria JJ, Salvi VS. Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy. J Postgrad Med. 2000;46(2):101-3.
  • 17
    Perkett EA, Lyons RM, Moses HL, Brigham KL, Meyrick B. Transforming growth factor-beta activity in sheep lung lymph during the development of pulmonary hypertension. J Clin Invest. 1990;86(5):1459-64.
  • 18
    Boukhris M, Hakim K, M'saad H, Ouarda F, Boussaada R. Successful pregnancy and delivery in a woman with a single ventricle and Eisenmenger syndrome. J Saudi Heart Assoc. 2013;25(4):261-4.
  • 19
    Pollack KL, Chestnut DH, Wenstrom KD. Anaesthetic management of a parturient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Anesth Analg. 1990;70(2):212-5.
  • 20
    Cole PJ, Cross MH, Dresner M. Incremental spinal anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Br J Anaesth. 2001;86(5):723-6.
  • 21
    Siddiqui S, Latif N. PGE1 nebulisation during Caesarean section for Eisenmenger's syndrome: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2008;2:149.
  • 22
    Kandasamy R, Koh KF, Tham SL, Reddy S. Anaesthesia for Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Singapore Med J. 2000;41(7):356-8.
  • 23
    Crawford JS, Mills WG, Pentecost BL. A pregnant patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Case report. Br J Anaesth. 1971;43(11):1091-4.
  • 24
    Mishra L, Pani N, Samantaray R, Nayak K. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy: use of epidural anesthesia and analgesia for elective Cesarean section. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2014;30(3):425-6.
  • 25
    Parneix M, Fanou L, Morau E, Colson P. Low-dose combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia for Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2009;18(1):81-4.
  • 26
    Pitts JA, Crosby WM, Basta LL. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy: does heparin prophylaxis improve the maternal mortality rate? Am Heart J. 1977;93(3):321-6.
  • 27
    Lust KM, Boots RJ, Dooris M, Wilson J. Management of labor in Eisenmenger syndrome with inhaled nitric oxide. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;181(2):419-23.
  • 28
    Griffiths MJ, Evans TW. Inhaled nitric oxide therapy in adults. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(25):2683-95.
  • 29
    Goodwin TM, Gherman RB, Hameed A, Elkayam U. Favorable response of Eisenmenger syndrome to inhaled nitric oxide during pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;180(1 Pt 1):64-7.
  • 30
    Lacassie HJ, Germain AM, Valdés G, Fernández MS, Allamand F, López H. Management of Eisenmenger syndrome in pregnancy with sildenafil and L-arginine. Obstet Gynecol. 2004;103(5 Pt 2):1118-20.
  • 31
    Dimopoulos K, Inuzuka R, Goletto S, Giannakoulas G, Swan L, Wort SJ, et al. Improved survival among patients with Eisenmenger syndrome receiving advanced therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Circulation. 2010;121(1):20-5.
  • 32
    Cartago R, Alan PA, Benedicto J. Pregnancy outcomes in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmengerization treated with sildenafil monotherapy. Chest. 2012;142(4_suppl.):999A.
  • 33
    Baumgartner H, Bonhoeffer P, De Groot NM, de Haan F, Deanfield JE, Galie N, et al; Task Force on the Management of Grown-up Congenital Heart Disease of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC); Association for European Paediatric Cardiology (AEPC); ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG). ESC Guidelines for the management of grown-up congenital heart disease (new version 2010). Eur Heart J. 2010;31(23):2915-57.
  • 34
    Phupong V, Ultchaswadi P, Charakorn C, Prammanee K, Prasertsri S, Charuluxananan S. Fatal maternal outcome of a parturient with Eisenmenger's syndrome and severe preeclampsia. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2003;267(3):163-6.
  • 35
    Avila WS, Grinberg M, Snitcowsky R, Faccioli R, Luz PL, Bellotti G, et al. Maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Eur Heart J. 1995;16(4):460-4.
  • 36
    Makaryus AN, Forouzesh A, Johnson M. Pregnancy in the patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Mt Sinai J Med. 2006;73(7):1033-6.
  • 37
    Yentis SM, Steer PJ, Plaat F. Eisenmenger's syndrome in pregnancy: maternal and fetal mortality in the 1990s. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1998;105(8):921-2.
  • 38
    Gleicher N, Midwall J, Hochberger D, Jaffin H. Eisenmenger's syndrome and pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Surg. 1979;34(10):721-41.
  • 39
    Brach-Prever S, Sheppard M, Somerville J. Fatal outcome of pregnancy in the Eisenmenger syndrome. Cardiol Young. 1997;7(2):238-40.
  • 40
    Bédard E, Dimopoulos K, Gatzoulis MA. Has there been any progress made on pregnancy outcomes among women with pulmonary arterial hypertension? Eur Heart J. 2009;30(3):256-65.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Jul-Sep 2016

History

  • Received
    21 Jan 2016
  • Accepted
    8 June 2016
Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular Rua Afonso Celso, 1178 Vila Mariana, CEP: 04119-061 - São Paulo/SP Brazil, Tel +55 (11) 3849-0341, Tel +55 (11) 5096-0079 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: bjcvs@sbccv.org.br