Pregnant with a failing heart: an obstetrician’s nightmare: a case report

Pre-existing medical conditions can adversely affect pregnancy outcomes for women and their offspring, especially in resource-poor settings in Africa. Women with underlying severe medical conditions who choose to continue with their pregnancy or present late for antenatal care would require care by experienced physicians at tertiary care centers. Approximately 1% of pregnancies are complicated by cardiac disease which may deteriorate with the increased demands of pregnancy. We present a case to illustrate the challenges and dilemmas encountered in the management of pregnant women with severe pre-existing medical conditions and the role of an interdisciplinary team in the care of these women and their unborn babies.