Evaluation of fetal cardiac dysrhythmias with two-dimensional, M-mode, and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography.
Forty-three patients with fetal cardiac dysrhythmia were referred to a tertiary ultrasound department for further evaluation. The patients were subdivided according to the type of dysrhythmia diagnosed. All patients with irregular fetal heart rate had a good perinatal outcome. Of the six patients with fetal tachycardia, two required in utero therapy with maternal digoxin, and one of these fetuses had a cardiac tumor. The eleven patients with fetal bradycardia had the worst perinatal outcome, with four deaths occurring. The results suggest that all patients with fetal tachycardia or bradycardia should have a complete fetal cardiac assessment in a center experienced with the management of such cases.
Cameron
A
A
Department of Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary Medical School, Alberta, Canada.
Nicholson
S
S
Nimrod
C
C
Harder
J
J
Davies
D
D
Fritzler
M
M
D000465:Algorithms; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy