Adolescent pregnancy and severe heart defect. A risky combination.

Current concern about adolescent pregnancy is based largely on its negative impact on the social, developmental, and economic prospects of the mother and her infant. The issues of adolescent pregnancy are more complex when the mother has a severe heart defect. Our case illustrates the problems that can arise in the pressure of associated medical problems. Although the patient's behavior contributed substantially to a tragic outcome, we believe that greater professional awareness and sensitivity regarding the needs of such adolescent patients might have produced a more favorable outcome.