Karin Lust is the Interim Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Royal Brisbane & Womens Hospital (RBWH) and Associate Professor, University of Queensland. She is also a General and Obstetric Physician at the RBWH. Karin is currently on the National Maternal Mortality Advisory Committee. Karin completed her advanced training in General Medicine and Obstetric Medicine at the RBWH and Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Brisbane. She specializes in the care of women with all medical problems in pregnancy. Her medical interests include preconception care of women with medical problems, venous thromboembolism in pregnancy and cardiac disease in pregnancy. Karin undertakes multidisciplinary clinics in Diabetes and Cardiac disease in pregnant women as well as General Obstetric Medical clinics. She is actively involved in Obstetric Medicine education and training to midwives, students and doctors and participates in clinical research. She was previously the Director of Obstetric medicine and Deputy Director of Physician Training at RBWH and is the Past President of the Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand. ABSTRACT Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy Dr Karin Lust At present cardiovascular disease (CVD) complicates between 1% to 4% of pregnancies, in developed countries. The spectrum of CVD in pregnancy is changing and differs between countries. The incidence of maternal CVD is increasing due to increasing maternal age, increasing cardiovascular risk factors and increasing numbers of women with pre-existing heart disease reaching childbearing age. Recent maternal mortality reports in developed countries have reported heart disease as a major cause of maternal death. Given the increased complications associated with maternal CVD, and the potential impact of therapies on the fetus, preconception counselling and appropriate management in pregnancy is vital. These women require a multidisciplinary team with experience and good communication managing them in pregnancy. Recent literature and update in this area will be discussed. |
