Cardio-Obstetrics Clinic

The Cardio-Obstetrics Clinic is a specialized outpatient cardiology clinic that provides care for

• Women with pre-existing heart disease prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy, and recently post-partum including (but not limited to):
  • Heart failure (peripartum cardiomyopathy or other cardiomyopathies)
  • Non-complex congenital heart disease, repaired or unrepaired (e.g. ASD, VSD, PDA etc.)
  • Native valve dysfunction (bicuspid aortic valve, rheumatic valve disease etc.)
  • Prosthetic valves (mechanical or bioprosthetic)
  • Heart rhythm disorders (SVT, atrial fibrillation or flutter, bradyarrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias)
  • Cardiac devices (pacemaker, ICD, CRT)
  • Cardiac chest pain or previous coronary syndromes (including spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD))
  • Diseases of the aorta
  • Pericardial disease
• Pregnant women with symptoms of heart disease not yet diagnosed
• Women with previous cardiac complications of pregnancy.

Cardiac care is provided in collaboration with obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine specialists, anesthesiologists, neonatology, cardiac surgeons, internal medicine specialists, endocrinologists, medical geneticists and cardiac rehabilitation specialists.

The clinic is closely linked to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre, UOHI CardioPrevent Post-Partum Rehabilitation Program and the UOHI Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic. Patients known to the UOHI Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) clinic or those with complex congenital heart disease (e.g. tetralogy of Fallot, Fontan, transposition etc.) should be referred there first.

Patients with pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, or gestational diabetes should be referred to the Internal Medicine Special Pregnancy Unit or to Endocrinology at TOH (The Ottawa Hospital).

What to expect

Referrals are accepted from physicians or primary care providers. A cardiologist reviews and triages every referral. A member of our administrative staff will contact you to book a clinic appointment. Please inform our clinic staff if you are already under the care of another cardiologist so that we may request your medical records.

The cardiologist will review your medical history and current treatment, focusing on your cardiac and pregnancy history. They will ask you about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, review your cardiac test results, and provide you with a care plan. 

The cardiologist may order tests to be completed prior to your initial visit. These tests may include blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Holter (heart monitor) testing, and stress testing.

What services are provided?

• Pre-pregnancy assessment, counselling, education, and support for patients and families/partners
• Cardiology consultation and maternal cardiac risk assessments for pregnant women.
• Specialized cardiac care throughout pregnancy and post-partum.
• Coordination of cardiac testing and imaging
• Development of individualized care plans for labour, delivery, and post-partum
• Coordination with Obstetrics, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Internal Medicine, Genetics, Anesthesiology, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and other specialties as needed.

Patient instructions

Clinic staff will contact patients to provide information about required testing. Please bring your list of medications with you and if available, copies of any relevant records you may have from outside centres / hospitals.

Referrals

Referrals are accepted from physicians or nurse practitioners.

Referrals from within TOH or UOHI are through EPIC (Ambulatory Referral to Cardiology at TOH General Campus Service Location).

Referrals from outside TOH should complete the referral form (PDF) and fax to 613-739-6727.