Cardiologist are often confronted with pregnant women in distress with heart disease. Obstetricians promptly refer them to cardiologists.
There is a tendency among cardiologists, to make fun of obstetricians who some times call them for frivolous cardiac problem at odd hours .(Say a VPD in the monitor or a systolic murmur of anemia etc)
Of course , this doesn’t mean in any way , cardiologists belong to a superior species ! The fact is , many cardiologists fare poorly in their knowledge about the hemodynamics of pregnancy (Let them prove this wrong !)
A small quiz . . . for all cardiologists
How much of blood enter the maternal circulation after each uterine contraction during active labor ?
Is the stress of normal delivery is greater than that of cesarean section under epidural anesthesia ?
What anesthetic agent is ideal in patients with pulmonary hypertension ?
How safe is general anesthesia in a hypotensive , heart disease patient ?
What is the clinical significance of administering IV anesthetic vs inhaled anesthetic in a patient with right left shunt lesions ?
If a cardiologist is able to answer all these 5 questions correctly without guessing , probably they have the right to make fun of obstetricians or else they have to quietly buy this book and read !
Final message
Every responsible cardiologist must have good awareness about hemodynamic stress of pregnancy and the intricacies of obstetrical anesthesia
Cardiologist are often confronted with pregnant women in distress with heart disease. Obstetricians promptly refer them to cardiologists.
There is a tendency among cardiologists, to make fun of obstetricians who some times call them for frivolous cardiac problem at odd hours .(Say a VPD in the monitor or a systolic murmur of anemia etc)
Of course , this doesn’t mean in any way , cardiologists belong to a superior species ! The fact is , many cardiologists fare poorly in their knowledge about the hemodynamics of pregnancy (Let them prove this wrong !)
A small quiz . . . for all cardiologists
If a cardiologist is able to answer all these 5 questions correctly without guessing , probably they have the right to make fun of obstetricians or else they have to quietly buy this book and read !
Final message
Every responsible cardiologist must have good awareness about hemodynamic stress of pregnancy and the intricacies of obstetrical anesthesia