We are an outpatient clinic specialised in cardiovascular risk assessment and cardiological follow-up of women during pregnancy. Pregnancy in women with heart disease is a long stress test. Women prone to arrhythmia, hypertension (toxaemia), heart failure, thromboembolic events may become complaining during pregnancy. Unknown problems may appear for the first time. The basic principle is that if the mother is unwell, the foetus is unwell, so the background to the complaints should be clarified and treated if necessary. Medication can be given during pregnancy, but more than ever, be aware of potential side effects. To assess the risk of pregnancy, a woman with heart disease should have a full cardiological check-up before pregnancy.
Basic tests such as laboratory tests, ECG and echocardiography are always necessary, but Holter ECG, ABPM, exercise ECG, cardiac MRI or CT scan may also be considered. During pregnancy, depending on the problem, lab, ECG, echocardiography, Holter ECG and/or ABPM may be needed for follow-up. After pregnancy, from a cardiovascular point of view, a minimum of 3 months is needed to return to normal (pre-pregnancy). At this time, we will recommend an end-of-pregnancy visit to discuss the significance of events during pregnancy, whether further treatment is needed, restrictions on contraceptive use and the risk of another pregnancy.
What are the complaints and when should you come to us?
– Without complaints, if you have a known predisposition to cardiovascular disease
– without complaint if you have ever had a history of cardiovascular disease before pregnancy.
– with complaints if you have a faster than expected heartbeat, choking on minor exertion, leg stiffness or any chest complaints, high or fluctuating blood pressure.
Thanks to successful cardiac surgery in children, the majority of congenital heart disease patients live to adulthood and require further regular specialised follow-up for the rest of their lives. Depending on the type of congenital heart disease, the most common late problems are arrhythmias and heart failure. But by adulthood, other types of problems should be consulted: sports, contraception/childbearing and employment. With our outpatient clinic, we aim to establish continuity in paediatric cardiology follow-up and to provide the conditions for regular follow-up.
In our clinic, the following tests are available: laboratory, ECG, echocardiography, Holter ECG, ABPM, cardiac MR and cardiac CT.
What are the complaints and when can you come to us?
– Regardless of the complaint, if you have had regular paediatric cardiology follow-up as a child.
– Complaint-free if there is a known congenital heart disease but no need for regular follow-up, or if there is a family history of heredity (e.g. atrial septal defect, bicuspid aortic valve)
– if you have complaints of irregular rapid heartbeats, fatigue, choking on light exertion, leg stiffness or any chest complaints, high or fluctuating blood pressure – if you are planning a pregnancy or are already pregnant and have or suspect a known or suspected congenital heart condition.
– if you have suspected pulmonary hypertension.
