Intrathoracic fluid changes from preconception to postpartum as measured by bio-impedance monitoring

Abstract

Intrathoracic impedance was remotely monitored from preconception to postpartum in a woman with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. At 6 and 20 weeks, two significant changes were recorded, suggestive for thoracic fluid accumulation. After normal outcome, postpartum intrathoracic impedance returned to preconception values. The obtained results from this case report show that these measurements can be obtained with an implanted device. Current devices for measuring cardiac output by impedance technique allow evaluating thoracic fluid changes non-invasively. As such, non-invasive impedance monitoring may be a potential new method for continuous monitoring of maternal vascular changes during any time window between preconception and postpartum, to be assessed in a large cross sectional observational study.