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Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a leading cause of direct maternal deaths in the developed countries. The incidence of VTE has increased significantly during the past two decades. The absolute risk of VTE is estimated 0.6-2.2 per 1000 deliveries. Compared with age-matched non-pregnant women, the daily risk of VTE is increased 7- to 10-fold for antepartum VTE, but it is 15- to 35-fold for postpartum VTE. The incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) during the first 6 weeks postpartum is nearly 15-fold higher compared to the incidence in pregnancy, and remains significantly increased up to 12 weeks postpartum. The case fatality rate of PE ranges from 2.2 to 6.6%.The basis of VTE prevention is careful assessment of individual risk factors of VTE and proper risk stratification.It is necessary to differentiate preexisting maternal from transient pregnancy-specific risk factors. Women with previous VTE or hereditary high-risk thrombophilias or with the antiphospholipid syndrome have the highest risk for VTE in pregnancy and the puerperium.Other most important pregnancy-specific risk factors in the antenatal period are severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, hyperemesis, major surgery, severe comorbidities (e.g., systemic lupus erythematodes), hospitalization in women with a body mass index > 25 kg/m 2 , and inflammatory bowel diseases.Heart diseases, stillbirth, systemic infections, severe postpartum hemorrhage in combination with blood product replacement and/or surgery and emergency caesarean section are predominant risk factors in the postpartum period.Recommendations for risk stratification vary among current international guidelines. According to the SOGC (Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada) 2014, pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis is recommended if the estimated absolute risk of one or multiple risk factors is greater than 1%.The ACCP (American College of Chest Physicians) Guideline 2012 presents specific recommendations only for post-caesarean risk-factor-based prophylaxis.The recent RCOG (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) Guideline No. 37a 2015 recommends risk stratification for VTE prophylaxis on the basis of a special risk scoring system weighting individual risk factors between one point (low risk) to a maximum of 4 points (very high risk).A check list of important risk factors and a management plan for thromboprophylaxis based on current guidelines should be readily available in each obstetric unit., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare type of heart failure which presents towards the end of pregnancy or in the first 5 months after delivery. Depending on the geographical location the incidence is reported in the literature as 1:300 up to 1:15,000. There are a number of known risk factors, such as multiparity and age of the mother over 30 years. The symptoms of PPCM correspond to those of idiopathic cardiomyopathy. The diagnosis is mainly carried out using echocardiography which shows a clear reduction of systolic left ventricular function. The therapeutic approach is the same as for idiopathic cardiomyopathy and in this context it is absolutely necessary to show caution concerning the state of pregnancy and the resulting contraindications for therapeutic drugs. The prognosis is dependent on recovery from the heart failure during the first 6 months postpartum. The lethality of the disease is high and is given in the literature as up to 28 %. Because of its complexity PPCM is an interdisciplinary challenge. In the peripartum phase a close cooperation between the disciplines of cardiology, cardiac surgery, neonatology, obstetrics and anesthesiology is indispensable. For anesthesiology the most important aspects are the mostly advanced unstable hemodynamic condition of the mother and the planning and implementation of the perioperative management. This article presents the case of a patient in advanced pregnancy with signs of acute severe heart failure and a suspected diagnosis of PPCM. The patient presented as an emergency case and delivery of the child was carried out using peridural anesthesia with a stand-by life support machine.

According to a proposal of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) the definition of hypertension is based on a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or more. Systolic and mean arterial blood pressure (e.g. MAP II) are not be taken into account. Out of a clear defined district the totality of n = 2259 pregnant women has been strictly supervised till to delivery and afterwards. The frequency of hypertension according to the old ACOG-definition was calculated to be 15.9% (n = 360). According to the newer ISSHP-definition it was 12.7% (n = 287). To detect severe and hazardous cases the newer ISSHP-definition seems to be better than the older definition of ACOG. Therefore, the acceptance of the ISSHP-proposal is recommended.

Incidence of hypertension in pregnancy is 5 per cent. Half of these 372 cases are gestational hypertensives. 24.4 per cent of the patients had preeclampsia and 20.2 per cent had chronic hypertension, 6 per cent of the patients with hypertension in pregnancy had a coincidental chronic kidney disorder. Only pregnant patients with preeclampsia are risk patients with respect to maternal health as well as to fetal risk.

Between 1969 and 1971 4,749 antenatal patients were observed. Compared to the tables for ideal weights of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Statistical Bureau, 26.76 percent of the patients were above ideal weight and 11.35 percent of the patients were obese. It was found that complications and illnesses during the pregnancy increased progressively with weight groups above the ideal weight. Hypertension was five times as frequent in obese women than normal, edema and proteinuria were common. Pre-eclampsia was more common in the obese. Varicosities occurred much more often in the maternity cases above normal weight and with obesity.

The early diagnosis of heart disease during or better before pregnancy is one of the most important problems, as cardiac diseases are the most common cause for maternal deaths throughout the world. The knowledge of hemodynamic alterations in circulatory and respiratory physiology during pregnancy complicated by heart disease is a prerequisite for their management. The following indications for therapeutic abortion of pregnancy complicated by heart disease can be concluded according to our own observations: 1. history of significant heart failure (more than grade IV according to the classification of the New York Heart Association), frequent attacks of angina pectoris and longstanding cyanosis: 2. in spite of the most careful heart treatment with digitalis, diuretics and salftree diet cardiac-thorax-rate of more than 55% in congenital heart disease, cardiac-thorax-rate of more than 60% in acquired heart disease, significant signs of heart failure, namely more severe than grade III, tachycardic atrial fibrillation, pulse deficit of more than 30/min, active inflammatory processes of the heart (rheumatic fever, subacute bacterial endocarditis, Takayasu's disease); 3. especially severe metabolic disorders, i.e. diabetes mellitus, malignant hypertension, kidney diseases; 4. primiparae of an age of more than 35 years with any heart disease. Commissurotomy can be accomplished during pregnancy if it is too late for therapeutic abortion. Pregnancy in case of artificial valves is not recommended in general because of impending hemorrhagic diathesis.

As part of an overall study, a cohort of 996 Swiss mothers was interviewed upon admission to the labour ward regarding illnesses, disorders and the use of drugs during pregnancy. The data are presented and compared with analogous data on the entire female population of the same age group in Switzerland, and with epidemiologic reviews of pregnancy events from other countries. Somatic illness, particularly the common cold, were reported by 55%, and complaints of a more psychosomatic character by 47%. Illness related to pregnancy was found in more than 40% of the women. Only 16% reported no illnesses or complaints during the course of pregnancy. On the other hand, 33% of the mothers had taken no medication during pregnancy. Compared with studies from other countries the use of medication in this group of women was lower, particularly self-medication for minor complaints. The women reported an average intake of 1.6 drugs. In the offspring of these mothers only a few minor somatic effects were demonstrable. The Brazelton behavioral assessment did, however, reveal some significant correlations.