Sept. 26, 2026
While global pregnancy-related deaths have been falling for the last 25 years, the rate has more than doubled in the United States. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study across 36 states concluded that 84.2% of maternal deaths were preventable. Through close collaboration and coordinated subspecialty expertise, Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Obstetrics Clinic (CVOB) is uniquely equipped to support patients across the continuum of pregnancy care.
"Cardiac disease is a leading contributor to maternal mortality," says Katie A. Young, M.D., a cardiologist and co-director of the Cardiovascular Obstetrics Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "As a result, there has been a greater focus on developing expertise in cardio-obstetrics and creating systems that support women throughout pregnancy planning, pregnancy and the postpartum period."
The Cardiovascular Obstetrics Clinic evaluates patients with a broad spectrum of conditions, including congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular disease and aortic disorders. The team includes specialists and subspecialists from a range of clinical areas such as cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesiology, and high-risk maternal and fetal medicine.
Whenever possible, pregnant patients with known cardiac conditions benefit from evaluation prior to conception. "The ideal time to assess risk is prior to conception," says Carl H. Rose, M.D., a maternal and fetal medicine specialist and co-director of the Cardiovascular Obstetrics Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "It gives us the opportunity to determine how a patient may tolerate pregnancy, discuss potential complications and create a management strategy before critical decisions need to be made."
During consultations at the Cardiovascular Obstetrics Clinic, the team reviews the patient's personal goals, current cardiac function, medications and previous interventions. Individualized diagnostic evaluations and care plans can include laboratory testing, electrocardiograms, coronary angiograms, echocardiograms, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
"The ultimate goal is to optimize maternal health before pregnancy, including consideration of medication changes or procedural interventions," Dr. Rose says. "Due to higher risks of serious maternal complications, pregnancy might be discouraged in select cases. Based on each patient's needs, we're able to determine whether an intervention prior to pregnancy can improve maternal safety."
Once pregnancy is established, multidisciplinary coordination becomes essential. "Our program provides the unique opportunity for joint cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine consultations," Dr. Young says. "Our multidisciplinary team collaborates on a coordinated, individualized care plan for each stage of pregnancy. Our shared approach helps streamline decision-making and ensures everyone is working toward shared goals for both mother and baby."
For patients with higher risk or complex conditions, delivery planning often involves additional specialists, including obstetric anesthesiologists, cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists. "The ability to rapidly assemble expertise across multiple specialties is especially valuable for patients who might require advanced cardiovascular interventions during labor and delivery," Dr. Rose says. Depending on each patient's needs, labor and delivery plans also can be coordinated in collaboration with a patient's local healthcare professional.
Crucially, the team's coordinated management does not end after delivery. "The postpartum period can represent one of the highest risk time periods for patients with certain cardiac conditions," Dr. Rose says. "Continued surveillance allows us to monitor recovery, adjust medications if needed and identify any potential complications."
"Pregnancy can also be an indicator of future cardiovascular health," Dr. Young says. "Conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension can provide insight into long-term cardiovascular risk — providing us the opportunity for preventive counseling and ongoing follow-up as needed."
Early evaluation, an individualized risk assessment and a coordinated multidisciplinary approach can help each patient understand the potential risks of pregnancy and improve outcomes while also informing long-term cardiovascular health strategies.
"While many healthy patients tolerate the substantial physiological changes involved with pregnancy, patients with underlying cardiovascular disease may face significant challenges," Dr. Young says. "Pregnancy can also act as a stressor, resulting in a new presentation of cardiac disease. Our coordinated and comprehensive subspecialty collaboration enables us to effectively support patients at every stage — from preconception planning to postpartum care."
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