Pregnancy follow-up in a patient with mechanical valve: possible in sub-Saharan Africa?

Abstract

Abstract: In Africa in general and in Cameroon in particular, post rheumatic cardiopathies are a health care problem and one of the causes of infertility in the women population [1]. It is also a major cause of death of many children and adults. Management of a pregnant patient with mechanical heart valve is a complex issue for all health care providers involved in the care of such patients [2]. Clinicians caring for pregnant women with prosthetic valves are faced with a dilemma when trying to provide optimal treatment. Inadequate anticoagulant therapy can result in thrombosis of the mechanical prosthetic valve while, on the other hand, anticoagulant therapy is associated with foetal and maternal bleeding and teratogenic effects. The present report describes a case of pregnancy on a patient with a mechanical valve at the mitral position.

Keywords

• Pregnancy
• anticoagulation
• mechanical prosthesis
• foetopathy