Key result
Fetal tachyarrhythmia is associated with ~8% CHD, with overall prognosis driven by fetal hydrops.
Why the study?
Accurate diagnosis and management of fetal tachyarrhythmia are vital due to its potential life-threatening nature and the need for appropriate therapy and delivery planning.
Observational
In fetuses with tachyarrhythmia, prognosis is primarily determined by the presence of fetal hydrops rather than the specific type of arrhythmia or gestational age.
Hydrops dictates fetal tachyarrhythmia prognosis; case report leaves optimal strategies open pending prospective data.
Real-time directed M-mode echocardiography permits analysis of atrial and ventricular mechanical systole and allows inference of the type of arrhythmia present. Accurate diagnosis in cases of fetal tachyarrhythmia is of vital importance when therapy is considered, and in planning further management and delivery of an affected infant. Fetal tachyarrhythmia may be life-threatening especially when fetal hydrops is present and aggressive therapy is mandatory in these cases with digoxin being the drug of choice. In our series the incidence (8.3%) of congenital heart disease was as expected, but the incidence (54%) of atrial flutter was surprisingly high. The prognosis was dependent on the presence or absence of fetal hydrops and was not influenced by the type of arrhythmia or gestational age.
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Stewart et al. (1987) conducted an observational in Fetal tachyarrhythmia. Fetal tachyarrhythmia was evaluated on Incidence of congenital heart disease and atrial flutter. In a series of fetuses with tachyarrhythmia, the incidence of congenital heart disease was 8.3% and atrial flutter was 54%, with prognosis dependent on the presence of fetal hydrops.
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