A woman with a coarctation of the aorta can often have a successful pregnancy. However, the woman and her fetus may be at risk for a number of complications.
Complications:
(1) dissection of the aorta
(2) intracranial hemorrhage after rupture of a cerebral aneurysm
(3) miscarriage or premature delivery
(4) pre-eclampsia or eclampsia
Risk factors for complications:
(1) aneurysm at the coarctation site
(2) prolonged second stage of labor
(3) uncontrolled hypertension
(4) severe coarctation that has not been surgically corrected or that has recurred
A woman with a coarctation of the aorta who is of child-bearing age needs to be aware of the risks associated with pregnancy and the importance of minimizing the risk for complications.
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