Fixed fetal heart rate pattern after intrauterine accidental decerebration.
A fixed fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern, with a normal frequency without accelerations and decelerations can be observed in early pregnancy during the inactive episodes of the rest-activity cycle, in association with certain drugs administered to the mother and in some cases of anencephaly. In the present case report a fetus is described in which a persistent fixed FHR pattern was indicative of decerebration in utero. The latter occurred after a serious maternal respiratory and cardiovascular collapse. The discrepancy between maternal and fetal outcome and the pathophysiologic backgrounds underlying the FHR changes are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D003655:Decerebrate State / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012769:Shock / Q000150:complications