Cardiac Consult: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast for Healthcare Professionals Cardio‑Obstetrics and Heart Failure: Preconception to Postpartum Management
Feb 26, 2026
Karlee (Carly) Hoffman, DO, heart transplant cardiologist who manages transplant recipients and heart failure in pregnancy. She discusses multidisciplinary cardio‑obstetrics care. Short preconception counseling, medication tradeoffs, and contraception choices are covered. Postpartum monitoring, mechanical support options, and reproductive planning including genetic testing and alternatives are also highlighted.
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Cardio‑Obstetrics Fills The Care Gap
- Cardio‑obstetrics is a multidisciplinary clinic bridging cardiology and high‑risk obstetrics for patients with significant cardiac disease who want pregnancy.
- Cleveland Clinic's clinic coordinates cardiology subspecialties, high‑risk OB, and a nurse navigator to provide one‑day comprehensive care from preconception through postpartum.
Preeclampsia And Pregnancy Reveal Future Heart Risk
- Adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth are long‑term cardiovascular risk markers.
- Cardio‑obstetrics tracks these patients after pregnancy because the pregnancy stress test can reveal latent heart disease.
Preconception Screening Rules For Transplant Patients
- Before approving pregnancy in heart transplant recipients, screen for medication adherence, rejection history, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, and the etiology of cardiomyopathy.
- Only consider pregnancy in stable, compliant patients willing to have frequent tacrolimus monitoring and visits.