RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tachycardia in pregnancy: when to worry?
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP e434
OP e437
DO 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0495
VO 21
IS 5
A1 Felicity Coad
A1 Charlotte Frise
YR 2021
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/5/e434.abstract
AB Tachycardia in pregnancy is common, and distinguishing between physiological and pathological causes can be a challenge. Understanding the cardiovascular changes that take place in pregnancy can help to direct investigations. The finding of a persistent tachycardia, regardless of symptoms, should always prompt clinical review and consideration of investigations (such as blood tests, electrocardiography and echocardiography), where indicated. Treatment of tachyarrhythmias in pregnancy differs very little from a non-pregnant adult, and unstable arrhythmias should follow Resuscitation Council UK guidelines. Pregnant women with pathological arrhythmias need to be cared for under a multidisciplinary team, including obstetricians, obstetric anaesthetists, specialist midwives, cardiologists and obstetric physicians.