Fetal M-mode and Doppler echocardiography provide essential tools for diagnosing fetal arrhythmias, guiding appropriate intrauterine management and treatment to improve perinatal outcomes.
This review highlights the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of fetal arrhythmias using advanced ultrasound techniques to guide intrauterine management and improve perinatal outcomes.
This article reviews important features for improving the diagnosis of fetal arrhythmias by ultrasound in prenatal cardiac screening and echocardiography. Transient fetal arrhythmias are more common than persistent fetal arrhythmias. However, persistent severe bradycardia and sustained tachycardia may cause fetal hydrops, preterm delivery, and higher perinatal morbidity and mortality. Hence, the diagnosis of these arrhythmias during the routine obstetric ultrasound, before the progression to hydrops, is crucial and represents a challenge that involves a team of specialists and subspecialists on fetal ultrasonography. The images in this review highlight normal cardiac rhythms as well as pathologic cases consistent with premature atrial and ventricular contractions, heart block, supraventricular tachycardia (VT), atrial flutter, and VT. In this review, the details of a variety of arrhythmias in fetuses were provided by M-mode and Doppler ultrasound/echocardiography with high-quality imaging, enhancing diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, an update on the intrauterine management and treatment of many arrhythmias is provided, focusing on improving outcomes to enable planned delivery and perinatal management.
Júnior et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Fetal cardiac arrhythmias. Prenatal ultrasound and echocardiography was evaluated. Fetal M-mode and Doppler echocardiography provide essential tools for diagnosing fetal arrhythmias, guiding appropriate intrauterine management and treatment to improve perinatal outcomes.