Acute Myocardial Infarction in Pregnancy: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Pregnancy is associated with increased hemodynamic demands on the mother's cardiovascular system. In a normal pregnancy, most women experience symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, lower extremity edema, and reduced exercise ability, which can be difficult to differentiate from those of cardiac malfunction. During pregnancy, very few women experience myocardial infarction (MI). With an increasing incidence of MI during pregnancy, neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality are significant. Particular attention is required regarding the MI cause, diagnostic assessment, and treatment plan, and post-event care is essential while treating pregnant women with MI. This review article describes the epidemiology, physiological changes, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, diagnostic modalities, treatment strategies, time and mode of delivery, anesthesia for cesarean delivery, intraoperative anesthesia monitoring techniques, postoperative analgesia, postpartum period, maternal and neonatal outcomes, future pregnancy, case studies, and outcomes for women experiencing MI during pregnancy.