Patient-Reported Pregnancy Outcomes and Survival in Women with Aortic Valve and/or Aortic Root Replacement

Abstract

Background:

Our objective was to investigate patient-reported maternal and perinatal outcomes and survival among women undergoing aortic valve and/or aortic root replacement (AVR/ARR).

Methods:

This was a single-center observational study of U.S. women identified in our surgical/obstetric databases who underwent AVR/ARR between 1967 and 2019. Available, consenting patients participated in a telephone survey detailing patient-reported outcomes. The status of remaining individuals was verified through the Alabama Department of Public Health. Date of death, immediate and underlying cause of death, and death location were abstracted from death certificates.

Results:

Of 317 patients, 72 were confirmed living, 86 were deceased, and 159 were of unknown status. Mean age at first aortic valve replacement was 43 years. Of patients with known status (n = 158), 33% were Black, and the majority received a mechanical valve (58%). Of 57 participants completing the survey, reported complications included miscarriage (30%), preterm birth (12%), preeclampsia (14%), antepartum maternal intensive care unit admissions (6%), and congenital heart disease in the neonate (8%). Most pregnancies preceded AVR (78%). Among 86 decedents, the average age of death was 52.5 years; the average time from AVR/ARR to death was 7 years. Of those who died, a higher proportion were Black (75%) and had aortic insufficiency (72%).

Conclusions:

Patients who underwent aortic valve surgery report high rates of maternal and perinatal complications, and death certificate data confirm high rates of racial disparities and death within a decade of surgery. Interventions are urgently needed to improve maternal and perinatal outcomes in individuals with aortic valve disease and to eliminate preventable racial disparities.