Congenital: Case 2 Part 3: Pregnant Kirsten

Kirsten discovers she is pregnant

Kirsten fails to attend her follow up appointments. Two years later she phones the nurse specialist and informs her that she is pregnant. The pregnancy was not planned and she has not had any recent echo or MRI scans since her surgery. The nurse specialist arranges an appointment for Kirsten at a joint cardiac and obstetric clinic. This is run by a consultant cardiologist in CHD, a consultant obstetrician and a cardiac CHD nurse specialist. They review Kirsten with a repeat echo at 14 weeks gestation. Kirsten’s pulmonary valve and right ventricle are working well. She has experienced some palpitations that last for a few minutes but she does not get dizzy, or experience breathlessness or chest pain. The nurse specialist arranges a 24hr tape for Kirsten and makes arrangements for her to be followed up both by her local team and at least once more in the clinic with a repeat echo scan. Kirsten’s case is discussed at a cardiac obstetric multidisciplinary team meeting and a care plan is developed.