2015 Volume 19 Issue 1 Pages 7-11
It has been reported that pregnant women who have undergone surgery to correct congenital heart disease have little cardiac reserve; thus, it is necessary to consider adjustments to the method of delivery for the purpose of minimizing the load on the heart. Epidural labor analgesia was administered to a primiparous woman who had previously undergone surgery for congenital heart disease. Forceps delivery was performed to shorten the second stage of labor, and patient-controlled epidural analgesia was also used. Heart failure and arrhythmia had not occurred during the pregnancy. No considerable changes in blood pressure progression of labor, and the statuse of the fetus was good throughout labor. In such cases, epidural labor analgesia may promote stable hemodynamics in pregnant women who are considered to be at risk during delivery, and thus, avoiding the need for a hysterotomy.