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Aggressive direct treatment of a fetus with supraventricular tachycardia and hydrops fetalis
Author(s) -
Jouppila P.,
Mäkäräinen L.,
Räsänen J.,
Valkama M.,
Paavilainen T.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1993.03040279.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hydrops fetalis , supraventricular tachycardia , fetus , amiodarone , sinus rhythm , tachycardia , pregnancy , anesthesia , cardiology , obstetrics , atrial fibrillation , genetics , biology
We report a case, in which direct fetal therapy by amiodarone injected into the umbilical vein during the last trimester of pregnancy was used for the treatment of fetal supraventricular tachyarrhythmia in the presence of severe hydrops fetalis. Eight injections were needed due to the recurrence of supraventricular tachycardia 1–9 days after the initial normalization of fetal tachycardia after each puncture. A severe fetal hydrops was maintained despite the achievement of sinus rhythm, and thus two ascites draining procedures were performed during the last 3 days before delivery to expand the fetal lungs. A normorhythmic hydropic baby was born by Cesarean section at 34 weeks + 6 days. Only mild respiratory difficulties occurred after birth. Her electrocardiogram suggests a Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome but the overall recovery has been uneventful. Copyright © 1993 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology