title: Congenital complete heart block and successful vaginal delivery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Congenital complete heart block is an uncommon fetal arrhythmia characterized by complete dissociation of the atrial and ventricular contractions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients were diagnosed with isolated congenital complete heart block in the second trimester of pregnancy. Successful vaginal delivery was achieved by both.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A monitoring protocol algorithm to be used by the clinician in managing term patients with isolated complete congenital heart block is presented. Vaginal delivery can be safely accomplished in patients with isolated congenital complete heart block, with the use of ultrasound and fetal scalp blood sampling to assess fetal well-being during labor and delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, Mich. 48236, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Featherstone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006327:Heart Block / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015415:Biomarkers