Treatment of cardiac arrhythmia in pregnant women

The management of arrhythmias during pregnancy is, in principle, similar to that in nonpregnant patients, however, special consideration must be given, to avoid adverse fetal effects. In pregnant women without organic heart disease, no drug therapy is usually needed for the management of supraventricular or ventricular premature beats, but potential stimulants, such as smoking, caffeine, and alcohol should be eliminated. In patients with mitral valve prolapse beta blocker may be preferred drug. In pregnant patients with organic heart disease, paroxysmal atrial or ventricular tachycardia may induce hemodynamic changes with consequences to the fetus. In paroxysmal atrial tachycardia vagal stimulation maneuvers should tried and, if this is not effective, adenosine or beta-adrenergic blocking agents should be used. Alternatively, verapamil may be given. In pregnant with atrial fibrillation, the goal of treatment is conversion to sinus rhythm or control of the ventricular rate by digoxin. Synchronized electrical cardioversion may become necessary when signs of cardiac decompensation or hypotension were developed. Ventricular arrhythmias may occur in the pregnant women with cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, mitral valve prolapse and congenital Q-T prolongation. Termination of ventricular arrhythmias can usually be achieved by intravenous lignocaine or procainamide or by electrical cardioversion. To prevent recurrences, quinidine can be used if the arrhythmia was not induced by QT prolongation or procainamide.