OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the accuracy of ultrasound anatomy screening before 17 weeks gestation in a population at high risk of fetal anomalies. METHODS: Retrospective review of anatomy ultrasound examinations done between 12-17 weeks gestation in a high risk population. Early sonographic findings were compared with the 18-22 week anatomy ...

Abstract Objective: To determine the influence of fetal acidemia on fetal heart rate (FHR) parameters analyzed by computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) in pregnancies with placental insufficiency. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 46 pregnancies with placental insufficiency between 26 and 34 weeks gestation by abnormal umbilical artery Doppler (PI>95p). Results: ...

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) carry a high prevalence rate in the general population (0.8%-1%). Most fetal CHDs occur in patients without any risk factors. The prenatal recognition of CHD has major impacts on the pregnancy and its outcome. The aforementioned data justify prenatal ultrasound (US) screening of CHD in the ...

Preconception or gestationally-induced diabetes increases morbidities and elevates long-term cardiovascular disease risks in women and their children. Spontaneously hyperglycemic (d)-NOD/ShiLtJ females, a type 1 diabetes model, develop bradycardia and hypotension after midpregnancy compared with normoglycemic, age and gestation day (gd)-matched controls (c-NOD). We hypothesized that onset of the placental circulation ...

We have found the article by Cohen and co-workers in the November issue of AOGS, regarding fetal heart function monitoring with electrodes placed on the abdomen of a pregnant woman during labor (fECG), very interesting (1). We are particularly interested in the ratio of cases in which achievement of an ...

It is established that in healthy human pregnancies there are changes in cardiovascular status, including a significant (approximately 15 - 20 %) increase in resting heart rate.(1) Although the underlying mechanism(s) are not well understood, it has been suggested that this pregnancy-related elevation in heart rate may be mediated by ...

This study sought to characterize the developmental changes of three measures used to describe the morphology of the fetal cardiac vector: QRS peak-amplitude, QRS duration and QRS time-amplitude integral. To achieve this objective, we rely on a recently developed methodology for fetal cardiac vector estimation, using multichannel fetal magnetocardiographic (fMCG) ...

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is associated with a faster heart rate (HR), which is a risk factor for arrhythmias. However, the underlying mechanisms for this increased HR are poorly understood. Therefore, this study was performed to gain mechanistic insight into the pregnancy-induced increase in HR. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using surface ECG we ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential of first-trimester sonography in the detection of fetal abnormalities using an extended protocol that was achievable with reasonable resources of time, personnel and ultrasound equipment. METHODS: This was a prospective two-center 2-year study of 5472 consecutive unselected pregnant women examined at 12 to 13+6 gestational ...

Contemporaneous associations between circulating maternal organochlorines (OCs) and measures of fetal heart rate and motor activity were evaluated. A panel of 47 OCs, including pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), was analyzed from serum of 50 pregnant women at 36 weeks gestation. Data were empirically reduced into four factors and six ...

In this study, a database of fetal and maternal parameters was developed in pregnant alpacas from 120 days of gestation to term for evaluation of fetal well-being and development. Ten pregnancies were examined every 2 weeks from 120 to 300 days of gestation, then weekly until parturition. Five more pregnancies ...

There is compelling evidence that factors before pregnancy and around implantation may have a bearing on maternal cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy and subsequent pregnancy outcome. Prospective studies from before pregnancy are associated with difficulties in recruitment, low conception rates, early pregnancy loss and low retention of participants during pregnancy and ...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to document the changes in the normal embryonic/fetal cardiac axis in the late first and early second trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: Images from 188 fetal echocardiograms performed prospectively between 8 and 15 weeks gestation in 166 healthy pregnancies and in 10 with severe fetal heart disease were ...

Dural sinus malformation (DSM) is a rare congenital malformation characterized by a dilated dural sinus pouch. We present a case of prenatally diagnosed DSM and propose a parameter to predict poor fetal outcome. Detailed ultrasonography at 26 weeks of our patient showed an intracranial cyst in the left posterior fossa. ...

PURPOSE: Isolated cor triatriatum sinistrum (CTS) is a heart malformation in which a perforated fibromuscular membrane divides the left atrium into two chambers. When communication between these chambers is restricted, a patient may have signs and symptoms of mitral stenosis. The later stages of pregnancy are associated with tachycardia and ...

A 43-year-old full-term pregnant woman (gravida 2, para 1, medical history of gestational diabetes mellitus) developed a sudden and malignant hypertension with hemoptysis, sweat, and tachycardia during a scheduled C-section. A dead newborn was delivered and was successfully resuscitated. The mother died after resistant cardiac arrest. Autopsy and pathological analyses ...

Objective: This study describes the association between the complexity of congenital cardiac and extracardiac malformations, and the parental decision of pregnancy continuation or termination. Methods: Congenital heart defects (CHD) was diagnosed by ultrasound in 251 fetuses before the 24th week (23 + 6 weeks) of gestation during the four year ...

Hydrops fetalis related to homozygous α-thalassemia is a rare condition in Western Europe. We report a case of fetal cardiac failure that occurred after a second-trimester diagnosis of fetal umbilical vein aneurysm that was postnatally related to α-thalassemia.

Abstract Objective: To quantify fetal bradycardia in the second stage of labor and to determine the threshold of the area that correlates with neonatal acidemia. Methods: We analyzed the cardiotocograms of 33 women with single pregnancy and term spontaneous labor who presented fetal bradycardia in the second stage of labor. ...

This study aimed to evaluate the effect that combining multiple ultrasonographic imaging methods has on the proportion of tests with a satisfactory fetal heart assessment at 12-14 weeks of pregnancy using B-mode, color Doppler, and spatiotemporal image correlation software (STIC) via both the abdominal and vaginal routes. This cross-sectional prospective study ...

Abstract Objective: To analyze the effects of different concentrations (30% and 80%) of cocoa on fetal heart rate (FHR). Study design: One hundred pregnant women with uncomplicated gestation, matched for age and parity, underwent computerized Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) recording before and after the consumption of 30gr of 30% and ...

Maternal listeriosis is often associated with mild symptoms for the patient, but fetal infection can lead to severe adverse perinatal outcome. The most described antenatal symptoms are reduced fetal movements and an abnormal fetal heart rate trace. We present a case of fetal listeriosis suspected by ultrasound findings of fetal ...

DHA (22:6n-3) supplementation during infancy has been associated with lower heart rate (HR) and improved neurobehavioral outcomes. We hypothesized that maternal DHA supplementation would improve fetal cardiac autonomic control and newborn neurobehavior. Pregnant women were randomized to 600mg/day of DHA or placebo oil capsules at 14.4 (+/-4) weeks gestation. Fetal ...

Introduction:Hypertensive pregnancy disorders are assumed to be preceded by defective spiral artery remodeling. Whether this localized aberration at the implantation site affects the initial maternal systemic cardiovascular and renal adaptation to pregnancy is unclear. We explored in a high-risk population, whether the initial systemic maternal adaptation to pregnancy differs between ...

Background:Despite the acknowledged importance of ascorbic acid (AA) in maintaining pregnancy and normal fetal development, this vitamin's precise actions remain obscure. Therefore, we investigated the impact of maternal AA content on the growth of fetal mice during the gestation period by using senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30)/gluconolactonase (GNL) knockout (KO) mice, ...

Using the naked eye, evaluation of fetal heart-rate (FHR) patterns remains difficult and is not complete. Computer-aided analysis of the FHR offers the opportunity to analyse FHR patterns completely and to detect all changes possibly due to hypoxia and acidosis. It was the goal of this study to make these ...

BACKGROUND: A retrospective analysis of the records of all the patients of heart disease with pregnancy at AIIMS, New Delhi, India, to find out the maternal and fetal outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out of 100 pregnancies in women with heart disease who delivered at ≥28 weeks ...

Most neonatal encephalopathic disorders appear to be caused by perinatal events. Persistent myocardial ischemia leads to cellular necrosis and release of troponin from cardiac muscles. Fetal distress during labor may be detected by monitoring the fetal heart rate. However little is known about the relationship, if any, that exists between ...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to better understand the quantitative volumetric changes associated with pregnancy in women with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), utilizing sequential cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. BACKGROUND: An increasing number of women with repaired TOF are reaching childbearing age. Limited echocardiographic studies suggest accelerated ...

Objective/Aims: To investigate the presence of signal ambiguity of intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring during delivery by comparing simultaneous cardiotocogram (CTG), abdominal fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) with continuous maternal ECG. Methods: A total of 144 simultaneous CTG (Corometrics(©) 250 series), abdominal fetal ECG (Monica AN24™) and maternal ECG (Monica AN24™) ...

Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) is a rare form of cardiomyopathy. This case reviews a woman with familial LVNC (EF 45%, NYHA class I, evidence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia pre-pregnancy) who had significant decompensation with heart failure in the third trimester that required early delivery. Deterioration in symptoms and LV function ...

Background: Fetal tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (f-TAPSE) is a modified method to measure the vertical movement of the tricuspid valve annulus by M-mode to assess the fetal right heart. It is well-recognized in pediatric and adult cardiology to evaluate right heart function, but has not been widely studied in ...

Although its prevalence is relatively low in pregnant women, heart disease is the most important cause of maternal mortality. Problems may arise due to hemodynamic burden and the hypercoagulable state of pregnancy. Heart disease may be congenital or acquired. In developed countries, the former composes the biggest part of women ...

To determine the incidence of heart failure during pregnancy and incriminated cardiac lesions, as well as maternal and fetal outcomes in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LTH), Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria. This study was a retrospective, descriptive review of all cases of heart failure during pregnancy based on data ...

The autonomic nervous system plays a central role in the functioning of systems critical for the homeostasis maintenance. However, its role in the cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy-related demands is poorly understood. We explored the maternal cardiovascular systems throughout pregnancy to quantify pregnancy-related autonomic nervous system adaptations. Continuous monitoring of heart ...

Fetal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common form of fetal tachycardia. If started early in pregnancy, it can cause non-immune fetal hydrops. Echocardiography is the preferred method for the diagnosis with simultaneous pulsed Doppler recording from the superior vena cava and ascending aorta. Transplacental therapy with digoxin is the ...

Purpose: Hypoplastic left heart (HLH) is one of the most common forms of cardiac abnormality detectable during gestation by fetal echocardiography. Antenatal diagnosis allows for appropriate counseling and time to consider treatment options. We report the actual outcome data after fetal diagnosis of HLH. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of ...

We evaluated the effect of fetal respiratory movements (RM) on the heart rate (HR) fractal dynamics.Abdominal ECG recordings were collected from low-middle-risk pregnant woman at rest. Mean gestational age was 34.8 ± 3.7 weeks. Ultrasound images were simultaneously acquired determining if RM were exhibited by fetuses. 13 pairs of HR series were compared. ...

We report on the first prenatally diagnosed interstitial 8p23.1 maternally inherited deletion. At 20 weeks of gestation (WG) the fetus was diagnosed with a complete atrioventricular canal. In infancy, the mother underwent a two-step cardiac surgery for an interrupted aortic arch type A associated to an inlet ventricular septal defect ...

OBJECTIVE: To summarize pregnancy outcomes among a cohort of Chinese women with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to identify predictive risk factors for maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 529 women with CHD who gave birth at the Shanghai Obstetrical Cardiology Intensive Care Center, Shanghai, China, ...

Abstract Objective. In general the analytical epidemiological studies evaluated cases with congenital heart defects together. However, different congenital heart defect entities have different etiology, and in the vast majority of patients the underlying causes are unclear. Thus the objective of the study was to evaluate the possible etiological factors in ...

We hypothesized that fetal echocardiography (echoCG) is an accurate diagnostic tool reflecting well postnatal echoCG findings and outcomes. We reviewed the medical records of 290 pregnant women, including 313 fetuses, who were examined by fetal echoCG at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital from January 2008 through April 2011. The ...

One third of deliveries in the United States are by cesarean, a rate that far exceeds that recommended by professional organizations and experts. A dominant reason for the high overall cesarean rate is the rising primary cesarean rate. The high primary cesarean rate results from multiple factors, both clinical and ...

The main goals of fetal surveillance are to avoid fetal death and to recognize the fetus that will benefit from early intervention with resuscitation or delivery. Surveillance can occur in the antepartum or intrapartum period. Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring is the most common form of surveillance in the intrapartum ...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of eCG or estradiol cypionate (ECP) during the proestrus period on estrus occurrence, ovarian responses, and pregnancy per AI (P/AI) in suckled Bos indicus beef cows subjected to timed AI (TAI) protocols. A total of 393 cows in random stages ...

Cardiac disease is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the UK. The major causes of cardiac deaths in pregnancy include cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, ischaemic heart disease and dissection of the thoracic aorta. With increasing numbers of migrant women in the UK, rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy has also re-emerged. ...

Objectives: Human fetal cardiac intervention has typically involved a percutaneous transventricular approach. In fetal lambs, a transhepatic approach to access the fetal intra-abdominal veins after exteriorization of the uterus by laparotomy has been described. We aimed to develop a percutaneous transhepatic technique for catheterization of the fetal heart at mid-gestation ...

Young women who require aortic valve replacement need information on the potential cardiac and obstetric complications of pregnancy for the different valve substitutes available. We, therefore, assessed the pregnancy outcomes in women who had received an autograft, homograft, or mechanical valve in the aortic position. Women who were pregnant after ...

Background: Treatment with radioiodine for Graves' disease regularly increases the level of antithyroid antibodies, and transplacental passage of stimulating thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) may cause fetal hyperthyroidism. Case presentation: A 21-year-old woman with Graves' disease received radioiodine treatment to avoid use of antithyroid drugs in pregnancy. She became pregnant 4 ...

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the best method of combining the fetal nuchal translucency (NT) and ductus venosus (DV) blood flow in the detection of cardiac defects in chromosomally normal fetuses, during the first trimester scan. Study Design: During an 8-year period NT and the DV ...