2023 HRS Expert Consensus Statement on the Management of Arrhythmias During Pregnancy
May 19, 2023—The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) released a new expert consensus statement on the management of cardiac arrhythmias during pregnancy. The document is a comprehensive resource with practical guidance on the optimal management of arrhythmias in pregnant patients and in fetuses.
The most common arrhythmias seen in pregnant patients are generally benign and usually resolve spontaneously after delivery. However, pregnancy is known to trigger sustained arrhythmia, especially in patients with a preexisting substrate. The tendency for arrhythmias to arise during pregnancy is multifactorial and thought to be related to a combination of the hemodynamic, hormonal, and autonomic milieu changes that occur during pregnancy. This expert consensus statement provides guidance for electrophysiologists, cardiologists, and other health care professionals that can be applied worldwide to optimize care and improve outcomes for pregnant patients. The document includes dedicated sections on:
- General concepts related to arrhythmias in both the patient and the fetus during pregnancy
- Optimal approaches to diagnosis and evaluation of arrhythmias during pregnancy
- Approaches for invasive and noninvasive treatments of arrhythmias in pregnant patients
- Disease- and patient-specific considerations when risk stratifying, diagnosing, and treating arrhythmias in pregnant patients
- Management of fetal arrhythmias