Peripartum cardiomyopathy, a type of dilated cardiomyopathy of unknown origin, occurs in previously healthy women in the final month of pregnancy and up to 5 months after delivery. Although the incidence is low—less than 0.1% of pregnancies —morbidity and mortality rates are high at 5% to 32%. The outcome of peripartum cardiomyopathy is also highly variable. For some women, the clinical and echocardiographic status improves and sometimes returns to normal, whereas for others, the disease progresses to severe cardiac failure and even sudden cardiac death. In acute care, treatment may involve the use of intravenous vasodilators, inotropic medications, an intra-aortic balloon pump, ventricular-assist devices, and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Survivors of peripartum cardiomyopathy often recover from left ventricular dysfunction; however, they may be at risk for recurrence of heart failure and death in subsequent pregnancies. Women with chronic left ventricular dysfunction should be managed according to guidelines of the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 March 2012
Cardiovascular Critical Care|
March 01 2012
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Review and Practice Guidelines
Leah Johnson-Coyle, RN, MN;
Leah Johnson-Coyle, RN, MN
Leah Johnson-Coyle is a nurse practitioner in cardiac sciences and Alan Sobey is an intensive care physician in the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Louise Jensen is a professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta in Edmonton
Search for other works by this author on:
Louise Jensen, RN, PhD;
Leah Johnson-Coyle is a nurse practitioner in cardiac sciences and Alan Sobey is an intensive care physician in the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Louise Jensen is a professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta in Edmonton
Corresponding author: Louise Jensen, rn, phd, Professor, Faculty of Nursing, 3rd Floor, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 1C9 (e-mail: [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Alan Sobey, MD
Alan Sobey, MD
Leah Johnson-Coyle is a nurse practitioner in cardiac sciences and Alan Sobey is an intensive care physician in the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Louise Jensen is a professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta in Edmonton
Search for other works by this author on:
Am J Crit Care (2012) 21 (2): 89–98.
Connected Content
Citation
Leah Johnson-Coyle, Louise Jensen, Alan Sobey; Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Review and Practice Guidelines. Am J Crit Care 1 March 2012; 21 (2): 89–98. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2012163
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Short-term Access
Purchase short-term access on a pay-per-article or pay-per-issue basis.
$15 72 - hour single article access $30 7 - day full issue access