SERIES STUDY OF FETAL HEART
Li
S-L, Li Y, Tian JW, et al.
The 1st Hospital Harbin Medical
University, China
Objective:
To research normal values of fetal echocardiography and transplacental
therapy of fetal arrhythmias.
Methods:
Doppler ultrasound echocardiography and FECG-D type electrocardiography
were used.
Results:
Internal and external diameters of the cardiac chambers, data of the aorta,
pulmonary arteries, oval foramen, and ventricular walls, and peak velocity
of blood flow at valvular orifices were obtained in the 60 normal fetuses
(20-39 weeks) examined. Of 400 fetuses (18-45 weeks), 23(5.75%) were found
to have arrhythmias. There was supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in 13
cases, in 7 of whom transplacental digoxin therapy showed excellent
effects. Three cases complicated with CHD or heart failure were also
treated by verapamil, with the result that two cases improved and one died.
Three cases of sinus tachycardia normalized after use of propanolol. One
case of frequent ventricular premature (VP) beats was cured with
procainamide. Three cases of SVT in third trimester and two cases of
occasional VP were not given drug treatment and normalized after birth.
Of 400 fetuses with the first
sibling having CHD, 8 (2%) had CHD.
Conclusion: Fetal
echocatdiography is an essential and cost-effective method for diagnosis of
fetal cardial abnormality. Transplacental digoxin is therapy of choice for
fetal tachyarrhythmia.