[Cardiac valvular disease and pregnancy. Haemodynamic aspects and importance of decubitus].

During the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, 26 women with aortic or mitral valve disease (II class NYHA) have undergone bedside right heart catheterization. Total pulmonary resistances (RPT) have been studied in supine (DS) and lateral (DL) decubitus. The results are compared with those of 7 normal women. It is known that the change from the supine to the lateral posture increases venous return (and cardiac output) by removing the compression which the pregnant uterus causes to the inferior vena cava. This is achieved without increasing the mean pulmonary pressure (PPM) and total pulmonary resistances (RPT); women with mitral and aortic stenosis have little or no increase of cardiac output but always a marked increase of PPM and RPT; the response in patients with aortic and mitral incompetence is closer to normal; an intermediate response was observed in patients with a mitral stenosis and insufficiency. The valvular heart diseases with stenosis badly tolerate the increased cardiovascular burden of pregnancy and are unable to accommodate the increased venous return induced by postural changes, which induces marked elevation of pulmonary pressure and resistances.