Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common defects at birth.
Thus, their prenatal diagnosis is extremely important, since early intervention, when
required, dramatically reduces newborn mortality. CHDs, that occur both at the
intrauterine phase and during the first hours of life, are well tolerated and do not
require specialized care during delivery. However, some severe CHDs have an
increased risk of hemodynamic instability and may require maintenance of fetal shunts
after birth. In these cases, planning the time of delivery and selecting a tertiary hospital
are necessary. In some cases, there may be maternal or fetal indications to anticipate
delivery, including a variety of obstetric ones. Thus, the birth of a newborn with CHD
is a multidisciplinary event, involving obstetricians, neonatologists, and cardiologists.
Keywords: Congenital heart defects, Neonatal care, Prenatal diagnosis, Type of delivery.
