Comprehensive Care for Complex Pregnancies
From pre-pregnancy counseling to delivery planning and post-pregnancy support, Temple’s Cardio-Obstetrics Program offers comprehensive care for all pregnancies that involve cardiovascular concerns.
Our multidisciplinary team of specialists has extensive experience with complex pregnancies. They work together to treat both pregnant patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, as well as those who develop heart conditions during pregnancy.
Pregnancy and the Heart
Pregnancy can affect existing cardiovascular conditions like congenital heart defects, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, valvular heart disease, heart failure or arrhythmias, and can also lead to complications, increasing risk to the birthing person and the child. Additionally, potentially dangerous cardiovascular conditions can develop in previously healthy patients during pregnancy, including peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), and preeclampsia.
Cardio-obstetrics lies at the intersection of obstetrics and cardiology, and focuses on managing cardiovascular issues during pregnancy to achieve the best possible outcomes for both the pregnant individual and the baby.
Teams also follow specialized guidelines for care, including more frequent doctor visits and closer monitoring. This can mean potential problems are spotted and addressed earlier, or that subtle symptoms that might not go unnoticed are flagged for appropriate follow-up.
Temple also offers pre-pregnancy counseling for people with existing cardiovascular conditions who want to become pregnant.
Conditions We Treat
Physicians involved in Temple’s Cardio-Obstetrics Program can diagnose and manage a wide range of cardiovascular conditions that occur before, during and after pregnancy, including cases that are highly complex.
We treat conditions including:
- Cardiomyopathy
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Heart arrhythmias
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Ischemic heart disease
- Preeclampsia
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Valvular heart disease
A Trusted Leader in Cardio-Obstetrics Care
The Temple Heart & Vascular Institute physicians have been recognized as some of the best in the country. In fact, the directors of the Cardio-Obstetrics Program serve on the Philadelphia Maternal Mortality Review Committee, contributing their expertise to help improve maternal outcomes across the region.
These teams are truly multidisciplinary, working in close collaboration across specialties including:
- Obstetrics
- Maternal Fetal Medicine
- Electrophysiology
- Cardiology
- Heart failure specialists
- Cardiovascular surgery
- Dietitians
- Genetic counseling
Patients are active participants in decision-making, which means that your preferences and concerns are central to your care plan.
Ready for an Appointment?
Request an appointment or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536), and start your journey with Temple Health today.
