Cardiac disease is the leading cause of direct maternal
mortality in the United Kingdom [4] and is associated with
increased maternal and foetal morbidity [5, 6, 10, 15, 18].
The management of cardiac disease and its complications
in pregnancy presents significant challenges for all health
professionals involved in obstetric care. Advances in surgical
techniques and medical therapies have resulted in the
survival to childbearing age of approximately 85% of children
born with structural heart defects [7]. The incidence
of acquired cardiac diseases (particularly ischaemic heart
disease) is also rising as a consequence of factors that
include maternal obesity and advanced maternal age