Anesthetic Management of the Newly Diagnosed or Decompensating Cardio-Obstetric Patient.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Patients with newly diagnosed or decompensating CVD are at high risk of morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy heart teams (PHTs) allow for multidisciplinary management of the cardio-obstetric patient. Anesthesiologists are key members of the PHT. A cardio-obstetric patient's delivery plan should consider the pathophysiology of their lesion in the context of the hemodynamic changes that occur during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or termination, and the postpartum period. More research is needed to provide evidence-based guidance for the management of cardio-obstetric patients.