Cardiac pearls: Mechanical Heart Valve and Anticoagulation in Pregnancy

This podcast outlines essential anticoagulation protocols for pregnant individuals with cardiac conditions. It specifically highlights the high mortality risks associated with mechanical heart valves, necessitating a complex balance between preventing maternal valve thrombosis and avoiding fetal complications like warfarin embryopathy. The podcast provides detailed instructions for transitioning between warfarin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and unfractionated heparin during different trimesters and the peripartum period. It emphasizes multidisciplinary care involving cardiology and anesthesiology to ensure safe delivery and postpartum recovery. Specialized recommendations regarding emergency reversal, contraception, and surgical interventions are also included to assist clinicians in managing these high-risk patients.