Mechanical valve thrombosis during pregnancy: A case report

Abstract

Introduction. If young women with congenital heart disease need heart valve surgery, it is necessary to thoroughly consider the choice of the valve and the risks of serious complications during pregnancy. Case Report. We report a case of a woman who presented with a pregnancy complicated by mechanical aortic valve thrombosis at the end of the first trimester. After a thorough evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, the patient underwent surgical thrombectomy and normal mechanical valve function was restored. At 36 weeks of gestation, planned cesarean section was performed. The mother and the child remained well during the 5-year follow-up. Conclusion. Mechanical heart valves in pregnancy carry a very high risk of complications. An individualized approach is needed in the management of women with mechanical valves, as well as uniform antenatal care in centers that provide complete care from pregnancy planning to delivery.