Cardio-Obstetrics Program

Tampa General Hospital's Heart & Vascular Institute houses a Cardio-Obstetrics Program that provides world-class multidisciplinary care to protect women’s heart health before, during and after pregnancy. In fact, TGH has been designated by U.S. News & World Report as high performing in Heart & Vascular care, which places us in the top 10% of hospitals nationally for 2023-24. As a team, we aim to be a resource and provide support for women with heart disease throughout the entire pregnancy and postpartum journey.

What Sets Us Apart

In partnership with the University of South Florida, we are the first and only academic cardio obstetrical program in the Tampa Bay region. Additionally, we are the only program that offers interdisciplinary collaboration and coordinated pregnancy care with TGH’s Women’s Institute. We were rated one of the top 10 hospitals in the country for Obstetrics & Gynecology by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-24. TGH has also been designated as a Maternal Center of Excellence and has been named as a Best Maternity Hospital by Newsweek in 2023. Beyond these qualifications, there are three key points that set us apart:

Our Multidisciplinary Team

Our cardio obstetrics team includes electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologists, heart failure and transplant specialists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, advanced imaging technicians and cardio thoracic surgeons. Each member of the team has undergone specialized training to deliver longitudinal cardiac care for high-risk pregnant women.

Volume & Comprehensive Care

As a high-volume maternal center of excellence, we handle over 7,000 deliveries each year. Our on-site neonatology department is equipped to care for patients with a variety of heart diseases and complications, encompassing a Level III NICU, obstetrical and cardiac anesthesia, cardiology, heart failure and transplant and cardiothoracic surgery.

Collaborative Research & Outreach

We are proud to partner with the local American Heart Association chapter to reach women in Tampa Bay’s most vulnerable communities, who are often at the highest risk for maternal morbidity and mortality. Our team also works with the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative and the University of South Florida to provide data-driven and evidence-based care through care quality initiatives.

Diseases We Treat

TGH's Cardio-Obstetrics Program specializes in caring for women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant and have or are at risk for cardiac conditions such as:

• Cardiomyopathy, including peripartum cardiomyopathy
• Arrhythmias
• Valvular disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Aortic disease

Risk Factors & Symptoms

Pregnancy is a major stress test for a woman’s heart. If you are aware that you have a cardiac condition and are considering getting pregnant, speak with our cardio obstetrics team to reduce the risks. If you have experienced high blood pressure with pregnancy, gestational diabetes or a preterm delivery (before 37 weeks), you may be at increased risk for heart attack or stroke.

While some women assume that the risk for cardiac issues lessens after delivery, postpartum can actually be the riskiest time for a woman in terms of heart health. Look out for symptoms like:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Spots in your vision
• Severe headaches
• High blood pressure
• A general feeling of being unwell or that something’s not right

Treatment Options

While exact treatment options vary based on the patient’s specific cardiac condition, our personalized care plans include three components:

• Preconception counseling – Including pregnancy risk assessment, medication adjustment, genetic testing and counseling, pre-pregnancy cardiac testing and the formulation of a pregnancy care plan
• Management of cardiovascular diseases through pregnancy and delivery – Including longitudinal care by our cardio obstetrical team, close monitoring of the health of the mother and baby and delivery planning
• Postpartum cardiovascular care – Including specialized care for women with cardiovascular or hypertensive complications during pregnancy, cardiovascular disease risk stratification and transition of care

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (813) 844-4076 or email CardioOB@tgh.org.

Our Team

	Daniela Crousillat, MD, FACC Director, TGH Cardio-Obstetrics Program Assistant Professor Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Tampa General Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute University of South Florida
	Allie Koch, PA Physician Assistant
	Ashley Young, RNC, BSN, RN Nurse Navigator
	Catherine Nadeau DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE