Prosthetic heart valves in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Advances in surgical technique, prosthetic heart valve design, and anticoagulation have contributed to an overall improvement in morbidity and mortality in women with heart valve prostheses as well as increased feasibility of pregnancy. Previous work investigating the pregnancies of women with prosthetic valves has been directed largely toward understanding the influence of anticoagulation regimen. There has been little investigation on maternal and infant outcomes. The objective of this systematic review will be to assess the outcomes of pregnancy in women with heart valve prostheses in contemporary populations.

Methods/design

A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and the Cochrane Library will b

SUBMITTER: Lawley CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3913632 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature