Postpartum Congestive Heart Failure Due to Diastolic Dysfunction:
Importance of Advanced Echo-Doppler Analysis
Abstract
We present a case of a 25 year-old female who developed acute hypoxic
respiratory failure secondary to postpartum heart failure with preserved
ejection fraction. Despite essentially normal tissue Doppler velocities
and E/e’ ratio by existing guidelines for the adult population,
available literature suggests that our patient’s markers of diastolic
function were significantly abnormal relative to what is expected in the
third trimester of pregnancy. Advanced echo-Doppler analysis and her
clinical presentation support the presence of underlying diastolic
dysfunction. This case illustrates the challenges associated with the
diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction during pregnancy and the need for
pregnancy specific guidelines.